Comparison of urinary excretion of albumin and alpha-1-antitrypsin in patients with arterial hypertension.

The aim of the presented pilot study was to compare urinary excretion of two plasma proteins similar in molecular mass and isoelectric point: albumin and alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) in patients with different forms of arterial hypertension and in healthy subjects. The 24-h urinary excretion of albumin and AAT were assessed in 52 patients, 29 with essential hypertension and 23 with secondary hypertension, caused by renovascular hypertension, adrenal phaeochromocytoma and obturative sleep apnoea syndrome. The concentrations of albumin and AAT were determined by rocket immunodiffusion. An increase of mean albumin and AAT urinary excretion was demonstrated, as compared to the control group, both in the patients with essential hypertension and with secondary hypertension. In 93.2% of the healthy subjects no AAT presence in urine was detected. No correlation was found between the excretion of albumin and AAT with urine.