A prospective study for the prediction of preeclampsia with urinary calcium level.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of calciuria as a diagnostic test for the prediction of preeclampsia, and also to determine the changes in urinary excretion of calcium in preeclampsia and normotensive women.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 60 primi mothers in the age group of 20-30 years, and all were enrolled at 16 weeks of gestation with clinical follow up by 4 weeks and 24 h urinary calcium and creatinine estimation. Ten mothers developed preeclampsia (study groups) and fifty remained normotensive (control groups). By means of Receiver-operator curve, a cut-off level of urinary calcium in 24 h was chosen for predicting preeclampsia.

Results: Preeclamptic women excreted significantly less total urine calcium (87.0 ± 3.59 mg/24 h) than normotensive women (303.68 ± 17.699 mg/24 h) (p < 0.0001) at 40 weeks of gestation. Urinary calcium and calcium/creatinine (Ca:Cr) ratio decreases progressively from 28 weeks to 40 weeks in the study group when compared to normotensive group.

Conclusions: Preeclamptic women excrete less calcium than normotensive women. This parameter would predict preeclampsia earlier in pregnancy.