Background There is significant evidence showing that microalbuminuria and arterial compliance are sensitive markers for early cardiovascular diseases. However, whether microalbuminuria is associated with reduced arterial compliance in Chinese metabolic syndrome (MS) patients remains unknown.Methods According to the definition of MS proposed by ATPⅢ in 2001, USA, subjects (n=362) were divided into three groups according to the number of risk factors: group 1 (control), group 2 (medium, ＜ 3 risk factors) and group 3 (MS, ≥ 3 risk factors). Both large artery compliance (C1) and small artery compliance (C2) were measured with the CVProfilor DO-2020 Cardiovascular Profiling System, and microalbuminuria was evaluated with the ratio of albumin to urine creatinine.Results (1) As C1 and C2 levels elasticity decreased, albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) and the prevalence of microalbuminuria increased within those groups with MS risk factors. C1 and C2 were negatively correlated with the ranking of MS risk factors, ACR was positively correlated with the ranking of MS risk factors (all P＜0.05). (2) Subjects were also categorized into a microalbuminuria group and a normal group, C1 and C2 in the microalbuminuria group were lower than in the normal group. (3) Multivariate regression analysis showed that increased systolic blood pressure (SBP) and reduced arterial compliance were the main risk factors for microalbuminuria in the MS group.Conclusions The risk of developing microalbuminuria was higher in the subjects with multiple metabolic abnormalities.Increased systolic blood pressure and reduced arterial compliance may be the main predictors for microalbuminuria in MS.