Relation of Microalbuminuria to Adiponectin and Augmented C-Reactive Protein Levels in Men With Essential Hypertension

Microalbuminuria, and recently, hypoadiponectinemia, have been associated with progression of atherosclerotic disease and increased cardiovascular risk. We examined the possible associations of urinary albumin excretion, expressed as the ratio of albumin to creatinine (ACR), with plasma adiponectin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in men who had essential hypertension. The study population consisted of 108 men who did not have diabetes and were newly diagnosed with stage I to II essential hypertension (age 44.6 years, office blood pressure 148/95 mm Hg) and 110 men matched according to age and body mass index as controls. According to ACR values, which were determined as the average of 2 nonconsecutive overnight spot urine samples, subjects who had hypertension were categorized into 2 groups: those who had microalbuminuria (n = 28; mean ACR 30 to 300 mg/g) and those who had normal albuminuria (n = 80; mean ACR