ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of the protein/creatinine ratio of a spot urine specimen for early detection of proteinuria in the pregnancy induced hypertension and to suggest optimum cut-off value of that. STUDY DESIGN: A spot urine specimen and 24 hour urine collection for the proteinuria were ordered for 36 women admitted to obstetric unit for pregnancy induced hypertension and ROC curve analysis was performed to evaluate the usefulness of the protein/creatinine ratio of a spot urine specimen and to suggest optimum cut-off value. RESULT: The protein/creatinine ratio of spot urine positively correlated well with 24 hour urine proteinuria. (r=0.4322, p=0.0085) and the optimum cut-off value of the protein/creatinine ratio of a spot urine specimen to maximize the diagnostic accuracy was 5.0(Youden's index=0.66). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the protein / creatinine raio of a spot urine specimen may be a simple and inexpensive method for evaluation of proteinuria in the pregnancy induced hypertension when frequent determinations are necessary. This should improve clinical care, especially when managing hypertensive pregnant women as outpatients.