Washington, May 06 (ANI): Higher level of the protein albumin in urine is linked to an increased risk for blood clots in the deep veins of the legs or lungs, according to a study.

Bakhtawar K. Mahmoodi, B.Sc., of the University Medical Centre Groningen, the Netherlands, and colleagues carried out a study, in which, they followed more than 8,500 people over about an 8-year period.

Those with higher levels of albumin in their urine were significantly more likely to develop venous thromboembolism, or VTE.

Overall, 3 percent of people with higher levels albumin - known as microalbuminuria-had a VTE during the study, versus just 1 percent of those with normal levels of the protein.

Microalbuminuria is known to affect proteins involved in clotting of the blood.The fact that microalbuminuria has a high prevalence in the general population (7.2 percent) suggests that on the population level, microalbuminuria may be an important risk factor for VTE," the authors said.

"Moreover, in contrast to most of the established VTE risk factors, microalbuminuria could be treated by nonanticoagulant medication. Future studies are needed to evaluate the effect of these drugs on the risk of VTE," they added

The study is published in the May 6 issue of JAMA. (ANI)