Urine protein/creatinine ratio is a widely used ''initial'' method to estimate daily
protein excretion in urine.
Since the diagnosis and management of
proteinuric renal diseases and the staging of
chronic kidney disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a type of kidney disease in which a gradual loss of kidney function occurs over a period of months to years. Initially generally no symptoms are seen, but later symptoms may include leg swelling, feeling tired, vo ...
depend on accurate identification and quantitation of proteinuria,
the implementation of the 24-hour urine collection is the most accurate procedure in practice to figure out the urinary protein excretion.
However, in current clinical practice, the urine protein/creatinine ratio is widely used to ''estimate'' daily protein excretion by virtue of its convenience and simplicity.
The difference between urine protein/creatinine ratio and 24-hour urine collection is that the former requires a urine sample to be collected only once at any time.
is taken into account due to the notion that
creatinine
Creatinine (; ) is a breakdown product of creatine phosphate from muscle and protein metabolism. It is released at a constant rate by the body (depending on muscle mass).
Biological relevance
Serum creatinine (a blood measurement) is an import ...
is normally released into the urine at a constant rate.
Scientists found that the ratio of protein to creatinine roughly estimates the actual value gained from the 24-hour urine protein test.
The normal urine protein/creatinine ratio is not more than 200 mg/g.
References
{{Urine tests
Urine tests