Proteinuria in congenital heart disease: is it a real problem?

The relationship between congenital heart disease and nephropathy has been known for a long time although its mechanism has not been understood thoroughly. Furthermore such studies have been performed in older populations. 74 children aged between two months to 168 months [20 normal as control group, 20 cyanotic and 34 acyanotic patients with congenital heart disease were investigated for their renal function and protein excretion. The data were analyzed using SPSS [version 16.1] independent t- test. Creatinine and glomerular filtration rate in cyanotic was lower than acyanotic group but these were not significant while both protein excretion incidence [65% vs 24%] and quantity [1.2 vs 0.2; measured as urine protein to creatinine ratio] were higher significantly in cyanotic group [P< 0. 001]. In cyanotic children with congenital heart disease proteinuria is more common and more severe compared with acyanotic patients; this is not related to age in children as it may occur in the same nephrotic range in infants with cyanotic congenital heart disease