[Diagnosis of preeclampsia using urinary protein/creatinine ratio]

ABSTRACT

Proteinuria is the most important factor in diagnosis and management of preeclamptic patients. The use of a method providing rapid diagnosis of preeclampsia is of prime importance and critical to immediate treatment. To measure the protein content of a 24-hour urine samples by determining protein/creatinine ratio in a random urine sample obtained from a pregnant women suspected of preeclampsia. This was a cross-sectional study carried out in Kosar hospital, Qazvin, Iran, during 2003-2004. The subjects were 50 pregnant women with gestationl age>/= 20 weeks and blood pressure>/=140/90. Following admission, the protein content of a 24-hour urine sample was measured and later, a random urine sample collected for determination of protein/creatinine ratio. Correlation coefficient between 24-hour proteinuria and protein/creatinine ratio was further calculated. Among 50 pregnant women, 12 cases had a proteinuria>300mg/day and 38 with proteinuria<300mg/day. Regarding the results of our study, a protein/creatinine ratio of proteinuria<300mg and similarly, a protein/creatinine ratio of >0.25 with 24-hour proteinuria>300mg [r=0/99, p<0/001]. Sensitivity, specificity, and the positive/negative predictive value for this ratio was 98% with an accuracy of 96%. Determination of protein/creatinine ratio of a random urine sample could predict significant proteinuria[>300mg/24h]