Question

how can pregnancy influence a urinalysis result?

Answer 1

Urinalysis will detect a number of changes occurring in urine, which will reflect changes in kidney and blood. In pregnancy, glucose will be detected in low amounts (trace amounts) in urine of pregnant women, which is normal. However, if glucose levels increase to higher level, it indicated gestational diabetes. The gluconeogenic metabolic state in pregnancy can lead to detection of ketones in trace amounts in urine. Further, ketones may be detected in higher amounts in urine during gestational diabetes. Ketone bodies affect brain development in the fetus. The woman may also be prone to undergo premature labor.

However, if the woman is suffering from gestational diabetes, the glucose will be higher in urinalysis. Urine pH is known to be more alkaline during pregnancy. This is due to increased secretion of bicarbonate. Women intake lots of protein during pregnancy. Further, the pushing of stomach by growing fetus will induce acid reflux, which will induce alkalinity of blood. This would in turn affect the pH of urine.

Urinalysis will detect higher levels of protein of around 300 mg/dL per day during pregnancy (normal range is 150 mg/dL). This is due to higher protein intake by women. Further, the blood volume increases due to increased fluid intake. Urine will be more diluted in pregnancy due to increase in blood volume. Hence, urine will be paler during pregnancy. However, if proteins levels increase much higher, it will indicate pre-eclampsia or pregnancy induced high blood pressure.

Urine test is used to detect levels of human chorionic gonadotropin for pregnancy detection. The hCG produced by the fetus is excreted in urine. The levels of urobilinogen are small during normal pregnancy. However, low platelet counts, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes etc can increase urobilinogen in urine during pregnancy. Bilirubin is absent in urine during normal pregnancy but increases if there is jaundice. There is no hematuria in normal pregnancy. However, in cases of placenta accreta or urinary tract infection, hematuria will be detected.