Microalbuminuria in Women with Gestational Hypertension

Background: Gestational hypertension (BP ≥ 140/90 mm of Hg without proteinuria) is classified under hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). HDP causes widespread endothelial dysfunction leading to hypertension and damage to vital organs such as liver, kidney, brain etc. Damage to kidney may lead to elevation in urinary excretion of albumin which can be used for predicting severity of the disease. Aims & Objective: This study was done to detect presence of microalbuminuria and to evaluate role of its estimation among women with gestational hypertension and normal pregnancy. Material and Methods: Case control study was done taking 40 women with gestational hypertension as cases and 40 age matched healthy pregnant women as controls. Urinary concentration of albumin was measured using immunoturbidimetry kit. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 17.0. Results: Urinary excretion of albumin was significantly increased in women with gestational hypertension compared with controls. Its level significantly positively correlated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Conclusion: Urinary albumin excretion gradually increases as the disease severity increases. Early & regular monitoring for microalbuminuria in women with gestational hypertension may give a clue of disease severity and associated organ damage. KEY-WORDS: Gestational Hypertension; Albuminuria; Glomerular Dysfunction; Kidney Damage; Prognosis