title: Random urine protein/creatinine ratio readily predicts proteinuria in preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the diagnostic accuracy of random urine protein-creatinine (P/C) ratio for prediction of significant proteinuria in preeclampsia as an alternative to the time-consuming 24-hour urine protein collection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective record analysis was performed on 140 pregnant women who were admitted with suspicion for preeclampsia from January 2006 to June 2011. Random urine protein and/or 24-hour urine protein levels were assessed and their correlation to random urine P/C ratio and 24-hour urine protein excretion was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 140 patients, random urine P/C ratio or/and 24-hour urine protein was performed in 79 patients to evaluate significant proteinuria. Of 79 patients, 46 (58%) underwent both tests whereas in 33 women (42%) 24-hour urine collection was not available due to urgent delivery. In 39 cases (85%), significant proteinuria (≥300 mg/24 hr) was detected with 6 cases (13%) having values over 5,000 mg/24 hr, corresponding to the diagnosis of severe preeclampsia. Random urine P/C ratio highly correlated with 24-hour urine protein excretion (r=0.823, P<0.01). The optimal random urine P/C ratio cutoff points were 0.63 and 4.68 for 300 mg/24 hr and 5,000 mg/24 hr of protein excretion, respectively. with each sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of 87.1%, 100%, 100%, and 58.3%; and 100%, 85%, 50%, and 100%, for significant and severe preeclampsia, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Random urine P/C ratio is a reliable indicator of significant proteinuria in preeclampsia and may be better at providing earlier diagnostic information than the 24-hour urine protein excretion with more accuracy than the urinary dipstick test.
authors: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Women's Medical Life Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jung-Hwa
authors: JH
authors: Park
authors: Dawn
authors: D
authors: Chung
authors: Hee-Young
authors: HY
authors: Cho
authors: Young-Han
authors: YH
authors: Kim
authors: Ga-Hyun
authors: GH
authors: Son
authors: Yong-Won
authors: YW
authors: Park
authors: Ja-Young
authors: JY
authors: Kwon
keywords: 24-hour urine protein; Preeclampsia; Protein-creatinine ratio