Independent relationship between microalbuminuria and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity (PAI-1) activity in clinically healthy 58-year-old men

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the relationship between low-grade albuminuria (microalbuminuria) and factors of the coagulation- and fibrinolysis systems in 104 clinically healthy 58-year-old men recruited from the general population. Urinary albumin excretion was significantly associated with body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 activity, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) antigen, tPA activity (negatively) and protein S (P<0.05). There were no associations between urinary albumin excretion and antithrombin III, fibrinogen, protein C, thrombin/antithrombin factor or von Willebrand factor. In multiple regression analysis urinary albumin excretion was independently and significantly associated with PAI-1 activity and systolic blood pressure (P<0.05). In conclusion we report that urinary albumin excretion was independently and significantly associated with PAI-1 activity in clinically healthy 58-year-old men. This relationship may contribute to the previously reported increased cardiovascular morbidity in subjects with microalbuminuria.