MICROALBUMINURIA AS AN EARLY MARKER OF SEVERITY IN HYPERTENSIVE PREGNANT-WOMEN

The value of microalbuminuria in predicting hypertensive complications in pregnant patients at high risk was tested in a prospective trial, A total of 276 patients were studied (142 in the study group vs 134 co ntrols). Albumin was measured in 8-h overnight urine collection throug hout-pregnancy using radioimmunoassay technique. The pregnant women, i n both the study and control groups demonstrated a statistically signi ficant increase in albumin excretion rate in the second and third trim ester compared with the first. Using logistic and linear regression mo dels, the presence of microalbuminuria in the early third trimester wa s proven to be predictive of severe disease (odds ratio 2.1, confidenc e interval (CI) 1.26 - 3.53) and birth weight (R(2) = 0.7, P < 0.05) i n the study group, Intrauterine growth retardation and neonatal outcom e were less predictable. With the introduction of radioimmunoassays, w e believe severe disease can be predicted by detecting microalbuminuri a in the early third trimester of pregnancy in high risk patients.