Risk factors for microalbuminuria in children with sickle cell anemia.

Purpose: To determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria and to establish clinical characteristics associated with microalbuminuria in children with sickle cell anemia.

Patients And Methods: Urine samples of all children (homozygous SS) followed in the Medical College of Georgia's Children's Medical Center Sickle Cell Clinic were screened for microalbuminuria. Random samples were obtained from continent patients at routine office visits between September 1996 and November 1999. A retrospective chart survey was performed to determine clinical correlates for microalbuminuria. Medical records were reviewed for age, sex, hemoglobin, and episodes of pneumonia, pain, aplasia, acute chest syndrome, priapism, and avascular necrosis. Demographic and clinical variables were compared with microalbuminuria by univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

Results: One hundred forty-two patients ages 21 months to 20 years made up the study group. The prevalence of microalbuminuria was 19%. Both increasing age and a lower hemoglobin level were found to correlate with microalbuminuria. By multivariate analysis, boys with microalbuminuria were likely to have a lower hemoglobin level and girls with microalbuminuria were likely to be older. None of the following factors were significantly related to microalbuminuria: pain, pneumonia, acute chest syndrome, priapism, avascular necrosis, or aplastic episodes.

Conclusions: Microalbuminuria is strongly and directly related to age and strongly and inversely related to hemoglobin levels. Identification of risk factors for microalbuminuria may allow earlier intervention to prevent renal complications in patients with sickle cell disease.