Prevalence of Microalbuminuria in Non-diabetic Hypertensive Patients and its Correlation with Changes in Left Ventricular and Left Atrial Characteristics.

Background: Microalbuminuria is urinary albumin excretion in the range of 30-300 mg per 24 hours and is considered as an abnormal albumin excretion rate. Microalbuminuria is associated with epithelial dysfunction and have a high risk for target organ damage resulting in stroke, retinopathy and adverse cardiovascular events. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria in non-diabetic hypertensive patients and its correlation with cardiovascular changes.

Acute intermittent porphyria: a test of clinical acumen.

Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) is a rare autosomal dominant hepatic porphyria due to deficiency of hydroxymethylbilane synthase (HMBS), also known as porphobilinogen deaminase leading to accumulation of porphyrin precursors. However, gene defect alone is usually not sufficient to cause an acute attack, and many extrinsic factors play a role. Diagnostic tests are defined, but clinical suspicion is often delayed as symptoms mimic other common conditions.