BACKGROUND: Microalbuminuria (MA) is thought to be a marker of widespreadvascular damage. It is associated with increased mortality in diabetes mellitus, hypertension and acutemyocardial infarction. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of MAin non-diabetic acute stroke patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 52 patients (mean age 69.3 +/-12.5 years) diagnosed with ischemic stroke confirmed by computed tomography, who were admitted to theStroke Unit within 24 hours after the onset of symptoms. The control group consisted of 37 age- and gender-matchedsubjects (mean age 65.2 +/- 5.7 years), examined 3 to 18 months after ischemic stroke. We excluded patientswith diabetes mellitus, positive urinalysis, proteinuria, hepatic or renal insufficiency, neoplasticdisease or clinical signs of infection. The severity of the neurological deficit was assessed by theScandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS). The albumin excretion rate was measured in daily urine collection onthe second day of hospitalization, using the immunonephelometric method. The patients were followed upfor three months. RESULTS: MA was found in 24 of 52 (46.1%) acute stroke patients and in 5 of 37 (13.5%)controls (p

Keywords: Risk Factors