Microalbuminuria is not associated with cardiovascular disease in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia

Microalbuminuria is thought to be a predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). A high prevalence of microalbuminuria might therefore be expected in patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HFH), as they develop severe premature atherosclerosis. We tested for this in 15 HFH patients (M = 9, F = 6; mean age 19.3 years). In addition, there was no difference in the mean urinary albumin excretion rate (UAER) between those with documented CVD (n = 8; UAER = 5.17 μg/min) and those without (n = 7; UAER = 3.60 μg/min). There is therefore no association between microalbuminuria and CVD in HFH.