[Determination of quantitative proteinuria from a single urine sample based on the protein:creatinine ratio]

Assessment of quantitative proteinuria is associated with collection of urine over several hours. This is, however, not always possible, in particular in ambulatory patients. Therefore efforts are made to assess the urinary protein per 24 hours on the basis of the proteinuria index, i.e. the ratio protein:creatinine in a single urine specimen. In a group of forty patients the authors demonstrated the closest correlation (correlation coefficient = 0.910374) between quantitative proteinuria and the index of proteinuria in urine specimens which were collected during daily activity. The closeness of this correlation depends on renal function. Assessment of quantitative proteinuria from a single urine sample on the basis of the protein:creatinine ratio is therefore useful in subjects with a preserved or not very restricted renal function.