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Normal values of urinary albumin and total protein excretion during pregnancy
K Higby1, C R Suiter, J Y Phelps
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-6200.
Objective:
Our purpose was to determine the normal 24-hour excretion values of urinary albumin and total protein in healthy pregnant women.
Study Design:
We evaluated 270 healthy pregnant women < or = 35 years old without a history of diabetes, hypertension, pyelonephritis, preeclampsia, or renal or connective tissue disease. Adequacy of 24-hour collection was determined by creatinine excretion.
Results:
The mean protein excretion in 24 hours was 116.9 mg, upper 95% confidence limit 259.4 mg. The mean albumin excretion in 24 hours was 11.8 mg, upper 95% confidence limit 28.7 mg. Both protein and albumin excretion increased after 20 weeks of gestation. No patient had evidence of microalbuminuria, defined as urinary albumin excretion > 30 mg/L.
Conclusion:
These data support 260 mg per 24 hours of urinary protein and 29 mg per 24 hours of albumin as the upper limit of normal in pregnancy. Albumin accounts for a small fraction of total urinary protein excretion.