Proteinuria in health and disease assessed by measuring the urinary protein/creatinine ratio

Abstract

We measured daily excretion rates for urinary protein and the ratios of urinary protein to creatinine in 24-h urines and in untimed urines in 60 healthy adults, 30 patients with kidney disease, and 22 kidney-transplant recipients. The ratios for urinary protein/creatinine, mg/g, in untimed urines and in 24-h urines from the same subjects were closely correlated (r = 0.97) for rates of protein excretion ranging from normal (mean 44 mg/day) to nephrotic (maximum 19300 mg/day). Because urinary protein/creatinine in healthy subjects never exceeded 100 mg/g, we propose that a ratio of < 100 mg/g in untimed urines, obtained in the absence of exercise, fever, or other evidence of urinary tract disease, is a criterion of normal kidney function. Among patients with nephrotic syndrome (urinary protein excretion rate ≥4000 mg/day), urinary protein/creatinine ratios always exceeded 2000 mg/g in both 24-h and untimed urines. Intermediate urinary protein/creatinine ratios (100 to 2000 mg/g) may reflect any type of kidney disease.