Protein/creatinine ratio in random urine specimens for quantitation of proteinuria in preeclampsia.

Protein/creatinine ratio (mg/g) in random urine samples was measured in 35 preeclamptic patients and 70 healthy pregnant women. We found a close correlation between the protein/creatinine ratio in random urine samples and both the 24-hour protein excretion and the 24-hour protein/creatinine ratio in the preeclamptic patients. The ratio did not exceed 200 mg/g in any of the 70 healthy pregnant women; therefore, ratios below this value can be considered normal. We conclude that determination of the protein/creatinine ratio in random urine specimens may be a simple method for quantitation of proteinuria in preeclampsia.