Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in Preeclampsia With and Without Proteinuria

Objective Preeclampsia is the commonest medical complication of pregnancy and can be associated with significant maternal as well as neonatal morbidity and mortality. Proteinuria is the most consistent finding of preeclampsia, though it's not a must, according to the latest guidelines. However, proteinuria is considered one of the features of preeclampsia, and it is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The role of proteinuria remains controversial as a prognostic marker due to variable correlation with severity; it may appear late in renal involvement. Also, gestational age and other end-organ involvement may influence the management decisions. This comparative study aims to examine whether the presence of proteinuria correlates with poorer maternal and neonatal outcomes. Material and methods A prospective observational study was conducted at a referral hospital. Six hundred women with preeclampsia after 24 weeks of gestation were included in the study, 300 in each group A & B, that is, preeclampsia with & without proteinuria, respectively. Proteinuria was assessed using a urine dipstick value of 2+ or more. All women were evaluated for end-organ involvement or uteroplacental insufficiency. Women were treated according to hospital protocol. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were studied and statistically analyzed. Quantitative variables were compared using an unpaired t-test. Qualitative variable has been compared using the Chi-square test /Fisher's exact test. Results Overall maternal complications, where all complications were weighted equally, were significantly higher in Group A (96.3% vs 70.3%, p