Microalbuminuria as Risk Indicator in Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Updated Review

Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune, symmetrical polyarticular disease that affects primarily the diarthrodial joints, which is characterized by chronic inflammation of the synovial joints. Microalbuminuria occur leakage of small amounts of albumin into the urine, when there is an abnormal high permeability for albumin in the renal glomerulus of kidney. Microalbuminuria is generally associated with elevated levels of several inflammatory factors in the presence or absence of hypertension or diabetes. It is clear that kidney is involved in RA with both glomerular and tubular damage. Renal disease in RA however is usually asymptomatic and is detected only on laboratory investigations. It is often difficult to differentiate between damage due to disease activity and that due to drugs used to treat RA. Microalbuminuria is one of the important biomarker involved in various disorders in related to RA. The present review work bounces limelight on role of microalbuminuria in RA as well as in relation with other disorders.