Clinical Significance of Proteinuria in Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension

Kim, Dong Ho; Lee, Young Il; Yoon, Sung Jun; Lee, Sang Hoon; Bae, Do Hwan; Hur, Min

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Proteinuria is a major clinical manifestation as well as hypertension and generalized edema in pregnancy-induced hypertension(PIH) and it should be considered an important marker of perinatal outcome. We studied the impact of proteinuria on maternal and perinatal outcome according to the degree of urine protein in PIH.
METHODS
Maternal urine protein and serum albumin levels were studied in 64 cases of PIH who were admitted to Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pil-Dong Hospital, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University for the period of 10 years from January 1, 1989 to December 31, 1998. RESULTS: Serum albumin level was 2.9+/-0.7g/dL in mild preeclampsia group and 2.7+/-0.7g/dL in severe peeclampsia group and there was a significant difference between them. Birth weight of infant was 3001+/-659g in mild preeclampsia group and 2446+/-878g in severe peeclampsia group, and there was a significant difference between them. 1 minute Apgar score was 8.4+/-2.4 and 7.6+/-3.4, respectively and there was a significant difference between them. 5 minute Apgar score was 9.5+/-1.8 and 8.4+/-2.9, respectively and there was a significant difference between them. There were several maternal complications above 2(+) urine protein and no maternal complications below 1(+) urine protein. Small for gestational age infant was more common above 2(+) urine protein than below 1(+) urine protein and fetal death was more common in 3(+) urine protein. CONCLUSIONS: There was a decreasing trend in gestational weeks at delivery as proteinuria become more severe and also in birth weight, 1 minute Apgar score and 5 minute Apgar score. Maternal and fetal complications were more common as proteinuria become more severe.