Improving efficiency in preeclampsia diagnosis: spot urinary protein/creatinine ratio

Background: Preeclampsia poses significant challenges to maternal healthcare due to its potential complications. Timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial for maternal and fetal well-being. Traditional methods like the 24-hour urine collection for assessing proteinuria have limitations. The spot urinary protein/creatinine ratio offers a quicker alternative, but its clinical significance remains underexplored.Methods: This cross-sectional study, conducted from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019, aimed to compare the spot urinary protein/creatinine ratio with the conventional 24-hour urine protein collection method in pregnant women with preeclampsia. A total of 90 inpatients were included, meeting specific inclusion and exclusion criteria.Results: In our study, 6.66% of subjects exhibited abnormal fundus examination findings, lower than a similar study (13%). No subjects had papilloedema, and conservatively managed abnormalities were comparable between studies. The mean urine protein creatinine ratio in our study was 1.75±2.32.Conclusions: This study highlights the potential of the spot urinary protein/creatinine ratio as an efficient diagnostic tool for preeclampsia at Kamla Nehru State Hospital for Mother and Child. Swift identification of significant proteinuria can streamline patient care, benefiting maternal and fetal outcomes in resource-constrained healthcare settings.

Proteinuria assessment in preeclampsia: a comparative study

Background: Preeclampsia, a severe pregnancy-related hypertensive disorder, presents substantial maternal and fetal health risks. Accurate proteinuria assessment is crucial but traditional methods are cumbersome and error-prone. This study compares the spot urinary protein/creatinine ratio with 24-hour urine collection for proteinuria estimation in preeclampsia at Kamla Nehru State Hospital for Mother and Child.Methods: A cross-sectional study with 90 eligible pregnant women collected comprehensive medical data. Both spot urinary protein/creatinine ratios and 24-hour urine collections were analyzed. Strong correlation (r=0.942, p<0.0001) was observed.Results: Spot urinary protein/creatinine ratio demonstrated moderate diagnostic accuracy (AUC=0.3). Sensitivity was 100%, specificity 87.9%, with PPV and NPV at 90.4% and 92%, confirming its clinical utility for proteinuria diagnosis.Conclusions: This study validates the spot urinary protein/creatinine ratio as an efficient method for proteinuria assessment in preeclampsia, with a strong correlation and high diagnostic value. Widespread adoption has the potential to expedite diagnosis, enhance outpatient care, and improve outcomes for preeclampsia patients, addressing a crucial healthcare challenge in maternal and fetal health.