title: Calcium to creatinine ratio in a spot sample of urine for early prediction of pre-eclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Based on the fact that urinary calcium excretion decreases in pre-eclampsia, this study was designed to determine the predictive value of calcium to creatinine ratio in a spot urine sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  The calcium to creatinine ratio was measured in a spot urine sample of 102 normotensive women at 20-24 weeks' gestation who attended the prenatal care clinic of the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The women were followed-up until delivery and grouped according to pre-eclampsia occurrence. The prevalence of pre-eclampsia was measured and compared with the calcium to creatinine ratio.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-four women remained normotensive during pregnancy and eight developed pre-eclampsia. Mean age, gestational age at the beginning of the study, and gestational age at delivery did not differ significantly between the two groups. Mean urinary calcium concentration (15.9+/-8.5 mg/dl in normotensive vs. 10.2+/-7.5 mg/dl in pre-eclamptic women), and mean birth weight (3192+/-336.3 g vs. 2712+/-468.9 g) were significantly lower in pre-eclamptic patients (P=0.03 and 0.005, respectively). Mean calcium to creatinine ratio was also significantly lower in the pre-eclamptic group (P<0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Single urine calcium to creatinine ratio may be an effective method for screening women at greatest risk for pre-eclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. kazeront@sums.ac.ir
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kazerooni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hamze-Nejadi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003404:Creatinine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D013997:Time Factors; D016482:Urinalysis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003404:Creatinine; D002118:Calcium