[Microalbuminuria in rheumatoid arthritis].

To assess the prevalence of microalbuminuria in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and its correlation with disease activity and drug treatment, we studied 65 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 51 sex and age matched control persons. Microalbuminuria was significantly increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (27.7%) as compared to 7.8% in the control group. Patients with microalbuminuria had a significantly greater median duration of disease (11.2 v 7.8 years; p < 0.001). We found a significant correlation to C-reactive protein as a marker for disease activity. Also, a significant association to treatment with gold and penicillamine was found. The measurement of microalbuminuria by immunochemical methods represents a simple and sensitive test to detect subclinical renal damage and may be a sensitive indicator of disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. We suggest its use in the monitoring of patients with rheumatoid arthritis to detect early subclinical renal dysfunction and drug induced renal damage.