Proteinuria in normal pregnancy and in EPH gestosis

EPH-gestosis (pre-eclampsia-eclampsia) characterized by edema, proteinuria and hypertension occurs primarily in the nullipara, usually after the 20th gestational week. As in normal pregnancy there is striking change in both renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate a slight increase in urinary protein secretion is not considered abnormal until it exceeds 300 mg/day. Abnormal proteinuria commonly accompanies pre-eclampsia and may be minimal, moderate or severe (even exceeding greater than 25 g/l). Proteinuria was typed mainly of nonselective glomerular origin by using the SDS-disc-electrophoresis. Additionally the clearance ratio of IgG to transferrin in all patients with abnormal proteinuria was evaluated. In none of the patients studied the ratio was less than 0.1 (highly selective). As severe proteinuria is associated with fetal growth retardation, preterm deliveries and prenatal mortality the quantitation and typing of early proteinuria is essential for considering patients who are at risk for developing EPH-gestosis.