Document Type : Original Article(s)
Authors
1
Assistant Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Mashhad Islamic Azad University
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad Islamic Azad University
3
General Practitioner, Researcher, School of Medicine, School of Medicine, Mashhad Islamic Azad University
Abstract
Background: Proteinuria is the main sign of preeclampsia. The gold standard test for quantitative evaluation of proteinuria in patients with suspected preeclampsia is the 24-hour urine analysis. Howewer, the collection of 24 hour urine specimens is time consuming, cumbersome, costly and unreliable procedure. The purpose of this study was to determine the diagnostic value of the protein/creatinine ratio in predication of 24-hour urine total protein among women with suspected pre-eclampsia. Methods: This study was a cross-section investigation and was performed on 45 hospitalized pregnant women evaluated for suspected pre-eclampsia at > 24 weeks of gestational age and a BP > 140/90 mmHg at 22-Bahman hospital between Dec 2006 and Jan 2008. For each patient, a random morning urine sample was obtained for the calculation of the protein/creatinine ratio then a 24-hour urine collection for determination of urinary protein excretion was collected Findings: From 45 patients, 67 percent of the study population had significant proteinuria. There was a strong correlation between urine protein/creatinine ratio and 24-hour urine protein excretion. Pearson's correlation coefficient was 84% and p = 0.0001. The best cut off point for the random urine protein/creatinine ratio was 0.23 with sensitivity, specifity, positive predictive value and Negative predictive value 81%, 77%, 89%, 63%, respectively. Conclusion: With further studies the random urinary protein/creatinine ratio could replace the 24-hour urine collections as an easier, faster, more useful screening test for ruling out significant proteinuria in suspected patients. Key words: Pre-eclampsia, pregnancy, random urine, protein/creatinine ratio, proteinuria.
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