Evaluation of Urinary Calcium, Creatinine and their Ratio in Preeclampsia: A Case-control Study

Abstract

Introduction: Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder characterised by high blood pressure during pregnancy. It is the major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in females. Prediction of Pregnancy Induced Hypertension (PIH) can be done by using a valuable marker i.e. Urinary Calcium-Creatinine ratio (UCa/Cr). Aim: To evaluate the urinary calcium, creatinine and UCa/Cr ratio in patients with preeclampsia and also to check the association of UCa/Cr ratio with the severity of the disease. Materials and Methods: The present case-control study was conducted in the Department of Biochemistry in collaboration with department of Obsteritics and Gynaecology, Maharishi Markandeshwar University, Ambala, Haryana, India from January 2018 to January 2021. Total of 120 pregnant women with gestational age ≥20 weeks (60 normal and 60 preeclampsia) were evaluated for urinary calcium, urinary creatinine and UCa/Cr ratio. For statistical analysis, unpaired t-test and Chi-square test and was applied. Results: The mean age of control group was 27.51±5.05 years and for case group was 29.8±5.49 years. The level of urinary calcium and urinary creatinine was found to be significantly (p-value <0.001) lower in case group (3.54 mg/dL and 42.90 mg/dL, respectively) as compared to control group (8.22 mg/dL and 80.40 mg/dL, respectively). The level of UCa/Cr ratio was also significantly (p-value <0.001) lower in case group (0.08±0.04) than control group (0.11±0.04) (p<0.001). Conclusion: The UCa/Cr ratio was significantly decreased in preeclampsia compared to normal pregnancy. UCa/Cr ratio in spot urine can be useful in identifying pregnant women at risk for preeclampsia.

Keywords

• gestation
• high blood pressure
• hypertension
• maternal morbidity
• pregnancy