Objective: To investigate the prevalence of microalbuminuria in children and teenagers with IDDM and its relationship with other variables.
Methods: We studied 160 IDDM children and teenagers with a mean age of 13 +/- 4 years from our endocrine department outpatient clinic. A complete medical history was obtained as well as a fasting blood sample for glycemia, glycosilated hemoglobin and lipid profile and a urine sample for microalbuminuria using laser immunonephelometry.
Results: 13 patients (8%) had microalbuminuria (20-200 micrograms/min) and 5 (3%) clinical proteinuria (> 200 micrograms/min). The abnormal excretion was more prevalent in females with the poorest metabolic control, the longest duration of diabetes, and the highest age (13-18 years). The presence of microalbuminuria or clinical proteinuria associated with a more atherogenic risk profile compared to patients with a normal urinary albumin excretion.
Conclusions: There was a poor metabolic control in our IDDM population. In addition, our current findings in a population with a relatively short duration of their diabetes point out the need to improve an integral management strategy to prevent or delay the late complications associated with IDDM.