Abstract

Introduction
Hypertensive disorder in pregnancy (HDP) is one of the most
common medical complications affecting approximately 5-10%
of pregnancies. It remains a major cause of maternal/perinatal
mortality and morbidity. Proteinuria is a sign of preeclampsia where
there is >300 mg of protein in 24 hour urine collection. This usually
correlates with 30mg/dl or 1+ reading in a random urine specimen.
The main objective of this study is to find out whether urine dipstick
correlates with 24 hour urine protein.
Methodology
This is a hospital based comparative study, where proteinuria by
dipstick method was compared with 24 hour urinary protein in
60 cases of pre eclampsia at Paropakar Maternity and Women’s
Hospital, Thapathali, Kathmandu.
Results
The dipstick method of detecting proteinuria significantly
correlated with the total 24 hour urine protein excretion by Esbach
Albuminometer. A dipstick factor of ≥300mg/24 hour indicates
proteinuria with sensitivity of 97.5%, specificity of 65%, positive
predictive value of 84.78% and negative predictive value of 92.85%.
3+ value in dipstick had high significance with 24 hour urine protein
by Esbach’s Albuminometer (R=0.983 ). The cost of dipstick was
Nepalies Rs (NPR) 14 in comparison to 24 hour dipstick which
cost NPR 80.Time needed to get report was immediate in case of
dipstick but takes 48-50 hour in case of 24 hour urine protein.
Conclusion
Timely collection of six hourly urine for detection of proteinuria by
dipstick is comparable to 24 hour urinary protein determination in
laboratory by Esbach Albuminometer, which is more time consuming
and expensive.

Keywords: Dipstick, Pre eclampsia, Proteinuria