Microalbuminuria: a sentinel of neurocognitive impairment in HIV-infected individuals?

Abstract

Background According to population-based studies, microalbuminuria is associated with subsequent cognitive decline over a 4-6-year period, because of cerebral small-vessel disease (CSVD). This prospective cross-sectional study (NCT02852772) was designed to evaluate whether a history of microalbuminuria is associated with subsequent cognitive decline in combined antiretroviral therapy (cART)-treated persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIVs). Methods From our computerized medical database, we identified 30 PLHIVs (median age 52 years), immunovirologically controlled on cART, who had microalbuminuria in 2008 and had undergone, between 2013 and 2015, a comprehensive neuropsychological assessment (NPA) including seven domains (cases): information-processing speed, motor skills, executive functions, attention/working memory, learning/memory, reasoning and verbal fluency. Forty-nine PLHIVs matched for age (median age 48 years; p = 0.19), sex, and year of first HIV-seropositivity without microalbuminuria in 2008 were identified and underwent the same NPA between 2013 and 2015 (controls). Results Cases performed less well than controls for information-processing speed (p = 0.01) and motor skills (p = 0.02), but no differences were found for the other cognitive domains and global z-scores. A multivariable linear-regression model adjusted for confounding factors confirmed the microalbuminuria effect for the information-processing-speed z score. Conclusion cART-treated PLHIVs with a history of microalbuminuria subsequently had worse cognitive performances for the information-processing-speed domain, possibly because of CSVD. Our observations should be considered preliminary findings of a temporal link between microalbuminuria, CSVD, and subsequent cognitive impairment.

Albuminuria as a risk factor for mild cognitive impairment and dementia—what is the evidence?

“…age, educational level, hypertension and CD4+ T-cell nadir), patients with previous microalbuminuria had a worse cognitive performance for the information processing speed domain. HIV patients treated with combination antiretroviral therapy and a history of microalbuminuria had worse cognitive performance for the information processing speed domain, possibly because of the presence of cerebral small vessel disease [ 20 ].…”