title: Podocyturia as a diagnostic marker for preeclampsia amongst high-risk pregnant patients.
abstract: Urinary podocyte (podocyturia) has been studied as a diagnostic marker for preeclampsia. We sought to validate its use in preeclampsia and in differentiating it from other high risk pregnancy states. We studied an obstetric population at high risk to develop preeclampsia (study group) and uncomplicated pregnancies (control group) by analyzing their urine sediment for podocytes within 24 hours of delivery. Podocytes were identified by immunohistochemistry using the podocyte-specific protein synaptopodin. Of the 56 patients who were enrolled, 29 patients were diagnosed with preeclampsia, 9 patients had hypertensive conditions such as chronic and gestational hypertension, 6 patients had Type I/II and gestational diabetes mellitus, 3 patients were classified as others, and 9 patients exhibited uncomplicated pregnancies. Podocyturia was identified in 11 out of 29 (38%) of patients with preeclampsia/eclampsia, 3 out of 9 (33%) with gestational and chronic hypertension, and 3 out of 6 (50%) with Type I/II and gestational diabetes mellitus. None of the 9 patients (0%) with uncomplicated pregnancies demonstrated podocyturia. The sensitivity and specificity of podocyturia for preeclampsia were found to be 38% and 70%. Our study showed that podocyturia does not appear to be a sensitive nor a specific marker to diagnose preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA. belinda_bun_jim@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jim
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jean-Louis
authors.forename: Andi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Qipo
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Garry
authors.forename: Samia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mian
authors.forename: Tulio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Provenzano
authors.forename: Anjali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Acharya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000652:urine*; D050199:Podocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000652:urine; D012306:Risk; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; C503967:SYNPO protein, human