CLINICAL-SIGNIFICANCE OF SODIUM DODECYL-SULFATE POLYACRYLAMIDE-GEL ELECTROPHORESIS OF URINARY PROTEINS IN PREECLAMPSIA

Objective: To establish the correlation between clinical and biochemic al parameters and the urinary patterns of proteinuria detected by sodi um dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS PAGE) in pr eeclampsia. Methods: 34 severe preeclamptics (BP > 110 mm Hg diastolic and greater than or equal to ++ proteinuria) who were < 34 weeks gest ational age were included in the study. Blood and urinary samples were obtained and the following tests performed: full blood count, serum u rea, electrolytes and urates, 24-h proteinuria and creatinine clearanc e, and SDS PAGE. Results: The patients were divided into two groups de pending on whether they excreted only albumin or both tubular and glom erular proteins as detected by SDS PAGE. There were no significant dif ferences in maternal age, parity, gravidity, and gestational age betwe en the groups. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significant ly higher in those who excreted both glomerular and tubular proteins t han in those who excreted albumin only: 173/116 versus 156/106 mm Hg; P = 6.0167. There were no statistical differences between the groups i n relation to hemoglobin, platelets, urea, creatinine, or 24-h urinary protein and creatinine clearance values. Conclusion: The present stud y shows that SDS PAGE analysis of urinary proteins reveals two distinc t patterns of proteinuria. Patients with mixed pattern (tubular and gl omerular proteins) have higher blood pressure values than those who ex crete albumin only. SDS PAGE appears to be a good noninvasive method o f assessing severity of preeclampsia. It may be of value in identifyin g those patients who require postpartum renal biopsies.