Proteinuria in patients with sickle cell disease

Proteinuria is a complication of sickle cell nephropathy that can progress to renal insufficiency and end-stage renal disease. The magnitude of proteinuria among patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) has been reported with variable prevalence. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of proteinuria in a large number of patients with SCD in Eastern Saudi Arabia. The urinalyses of 940 non-diabetic patients with SCD were tested for the presence of proteinuria. The glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR) of all patients was estimated using the Cockcroft- Gault equation. Proteinuria was found in 79 of 940 patients with SCD (prevalence 8.4%). The mean age of the affected patients with proteinuria was 33 ± 15.4 years (10-76). The mean GFR was 118 mL/min/1.73 m^2. This study indicates that patients with SCD in Eastern Saudi Arabia have a low prevalence of proteinuria and preserved GFR.