SHORT REPORT

Accuracy of the urinary albumin to creatinine ratio as a predictor of albuminuria in adults with sickle cell disease

C S P Lima¹, P V Bottini², C R Garlipp², A O Santos³, F F Costa⁴ and S T O Saad⁴

¹ Haematology and Haemotherapy Centre, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
² Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas
³ Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas
⁴ Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr C S P Lima, Hemocentro - UNICAMP, CP: 6198; Cep: 13081–970 Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil;
carmenl{at}obelix.unicamp.br

Aim: To test the usefulness of a random urine specimen albumin to creatinine ratio (A/C) in predicting 12 hour urinary albumin excretion (12UA) in patients with sickle cell disease.

Methods: 12UA and A/C were measured in nocturnal urine collections and random morning urine samples, respectively, of 72 patients with sickle cell disease.

Results: The correlation of A/C values with 12UA values did not provide support for the use of random urine specimens for predicting urinary albumin excretion (UAE) in these patients. However, values of A/C 0.45 and < 0.45 were indicative of raised and normal UAE, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the test were 100.0%, 87.2%, and 91.7%, respectively.

Conclusions: This method cannot be recommended for predicting 12UA in patients with sickle cell disease, but it is useful for selecting patients who should collect 12 hour urine for the estimation of UAE.

Keywords: sickle cell disease; nephropathy; albuminuria; urinary albumin to creatinine ratio

Abbreviations: A/C, albumin to creatinine ratio; ACE, angiotensin converting enzyme; CI, confidence interval; P/C, protein to creatinine ratio; 12UA, 12 hour urinary albumin excretion; UAE, urinary albumin excretion; UC, urinary creatinine excretion

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