Microalbuminuria in non insulin dependent diabetes and essential hypertension: a marker of severe disease.

Sixty five (65) hypertensive, 91 non-insulin dependent diabetes and 50 matched, healthy controls were examined for the presence of microalbuminuria, using the Micral strip test. Microalbuminuria was observed in 25 per cent of diabetics and 21.54 per cent of hypertensive subjects. None of the controls demonstrated microalbuminuria. Diabetics with microalbuminuria were poorly controlled and demonstrated significantly higher systolic pressure. In hypertensive subjects, microalbuminuria was seen more in patients with severe disease. In both diabetics and hypertensives, presence of microalbuminuria was significantly influenced by the disease duration.