Clinical Nephrology – Epidemiology – Clinical Trials
Kidney International (2005) 68, 796–801; doi:10.1111/j.1523-1755.2005.00459.x
Correlation of uric acid and urinary albumin excretion rate in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Taiwan
CHIN-HSIAO TSENG
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital; National Taiwan University College of Medicine; School of Public Health, Taipei Medical University; and Division of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine of the National Health Research Institutes, Taipei, Taiwan
Correspondence: Chin-Hsiao Tseng M.D., Ph.D., Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, No. 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan. E-mail: ccktsh@ms6.hinet.net
Received 8 February 2005; Revised 6 March 2005; Accepted 18 March 2005.
Abstract
Correlation of uric acid and urinary albumin excretion rate in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Taiwan.
Background
Uric acid is detrimental to the kidneys in animal models. However, its role in human diabetic nephropathy has not been extensively studied. This study evaluated the association between serum uric acid and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Taiwan.
Methods
A total of 343 patients (144 men and 199 women), aged 62.8 
10.8 years and not using uric acid–lowering agents, diuretics, or alcohol, were recruited. Serum uric acid and urinary ACR were determined. Normoalbuminuria, microalbuminuria, and macroalbuminuria were defined as ACR <30.0, 30.0 to 299.9, and 
300.0 
g/mg, respectively.
Results
The respective uric acid levels for normoalbuminuria (N = 166), microalbuminuria (N = 130), and macroalbuminuria (N = 47) were 5.2 1.6 mg/dL, 5.6 1.9 mg/dL, and 6.7 2.1 mg/dL (P < 0.001). The mean SD (minimum-maximum) values of uric acid for the first to the fourth quartile were 3.4 0.6 (1.7–4.2), 4.9 0.4 (4.3–5.4), 6.0 0.3 (5.5–6.5), and 8.1 1.2 (6.6–12.2), respectively. Prevalence of abnormal albuminuria (microalbuminuria plus macroalbuminuria) for the respective quartiles were 38.4%, 51.2%, 50.6%, and 66.3% (P trend <0.01). In men, uric acid correlated positively with triglycerides and natural logarithmic [ln (ACR)] (
= 0.168, P < 0.05). In women, uric acid correlated positively with triglycerides, ln (ACR) ( = 0.277, P < 0.01) and body mass index (borderline significant P < 0.1), but negatively with calculated creatinine clearance. The standardized regression coefficient for ln (ACR) and the odds ratio for abnormal albuminuria for every 1 mg/dL increment of uric acid after adjusting for calculated creatinine clearance and other confounders were 0.138 (P < 0.05) and 1.183 (1.025–1.364), respectively. The results after excluding 127 cases with a history of hypertension were similar.
Conclusion
Serum uric acid is an independent correlate of urinary ACR in Taiwanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Keywords:
uric acid, urinary albumin excretion rate, type 2 diabetes mellitus, risk factors, Taiwan
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