The use of urinary albumin-creatinine ratios and calcium-creatinine ratios as screening tests for pregnancy-induced hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the potential of both urinary albumin creatinine ratios and urinary calcium-creatinine ratios as screening tests for pregnancy-induced hypertension.


METHODS
A prospective, non-interventional study was performed in a teaching hospital antenatal clinic. Five hundred normotensive, nulliparous pregnant women provided a urine sample at 19 weeks' gestation. The main outcome measurements were the development of pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia.


RESULTS
No significant differences in urinary albumin/creatinine and calcium/creatinine were demonstrated between patients who developed pregnancy-induced hypertension and those who remained normotensive. Urinary creatinine concentrations were significantly higher at 19 weeks' gestation in patients who subsequently developed pregnancy-induced hypertension.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that neither urinary ratio is a potential screening test for pregnancy-induced hypertension. The increased urinary creatinine concentration in patients who subsequently developed pregnancy-induced hypertension has not previously been reported and merits further investigation.
Baker
P N
PN
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom.
Hackett
G A
GA
D000328:Adult; D000419:Albuminuria; D002118:Calcium / Q000652:urine*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D003404:Creatinine; D002118:Calcium