Isolated proteinuria as an initial sign of severe preeclampsia

Two pregnant women who initially developed proteinuria alone followed by serious preeclampsia are presented to emphasize that there is no adequate technical term to express the period of proteinuria alone based on the current criteria of pregnancy-induced hypertension. Case 1 exhibited a urinary protein concentration of 46 mg/dL in the absence of hypertension, and abdominal pain due to placental abruption with hypertension at gestational week (GW) 29–3/7 and 29–4/7, respectively. Case 2 exhibited a urinary protein/creatinine ratio of 2.67, developed hypertension, required cesarean section, and developed posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome at GW 28–1/7, 29–6/7, and 32–0/7, and on postpartum day 2, respectively. As women with proteinuria alone are not diagnosed as having preeclampsia and as a diagnosis of gestational proteinuria can be made only at 12 weeks postpartum, a prospective technical term applicable to the condition of proteinuria alone is needed to increase physicians’ attention to this condition.