Outcome of pregnancy with new onset proteinuria and progression to pre-eclampsia: A retrospective analysis

To examine maternal and neonatal outcomes of gestational proteinuria, and to identify maternal characteristics for progression to pre-eclampsia.

Retrospective cohort. Included all pregnant women who delivered between Jan 2014-Feb 2017 with new onset proteinuria in a single obstetric unit. Demographic, maternal and neonatal outcomes were compared.

Eighteen (25%) out of 73 women with new onset gestational proteinuria developed pre-eclampsia. The incidence of gestational proteinuria was 0.54%. Compared with women that remained normotensive, those that developed hypertension had delivery at earlier gestation (p = .02), increased risk of fetal growth restriction (p = .01) and lower newborn birthweight (p = .002). Maximal proteinuria and fetal growth restriction were independent factors associated with development of pre-eclampsia. In particular, high proteinuria level ≥ 2 g/d constitute a major predictor for progression (p = .03).

Increased vigilance for antenatal surveillance is important in women with gestational proteinuria as a substantial portion progress to pre-eclampsia. Serial growth scan and proteinuria assay are suggested to predict possible pre-eclampsia development.