Screening of microalbuminuria in simple intestinal schistosoma mansoni

ABSTRACT

Microalbuminuria was detected in the morning urine sample of 82 cases of simple intestinal S. mansoni infection without hepatosplenic affection, and 12 healthy controls. The schistosomal cases had a mean age of 17+08 years [range 8 -25y] and a mean duration of infection of 7. 01 years. [range 2-12 y] Four cases had gross albuminuria, of the remaining 78 cases, 14 had microalbuminuria ranging from [25 - 75 microg/ml]. This forms an incidence of 17. 94%. A concluding remark would be that micro albuminuria is rather more frequent finding in simple S. mansoni infection than gross proteinuria, indicating that subclinical renal affection is more common than manifest renal disease. Granting the special sensitivity of microalbuminuria to detect early subclinical affection, it can be a valuable test in identifying patients prone to the development of schistosomal nephropathy