Chronic Kidney Disease in Pregnancy

South Med J. 2017 Sep;110(9):578-585. doi: 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000000693.

Abstract

With the increasing prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) worldwide, the number of pregnant women with various degrees of renal dysfunction is expected to increase. There is a bidirectional relation between CKD and pregnancy in which renal dysfunction negatively affects pregnancy outcomes, and the pregnancy can have a deleterious impact on various aspects of kidney disease. It has been shown that even mild renal dysfunction can increase considerably the risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Moreover, data suggest that a history of recovery from acute kidney injury is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. In addition to kidney dysfunction, maternal hypertension and proteinuria predispose women to negative outcomes and are important factors to consider in preconception counseling and the process of risk stratification. In this review, we provide an overview of the physiologic renal changes during pregnancy as well as available data regarding CKD and pregnancy outcomes. We also highlight the important management strategies in women with certain selected renal conditions that are seen commonly during the childbearing years. We call for future research on underexplored areas such as the concept of renal functional reserve to develop a potential clinical tool for prognostication and risk stratification of women at higher risk for complications during pregnancy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kidney Function Tests
  • Pregnancy / physiology*
  • Pregnancy Complications* / physiopathology
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic* / complications
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic* / physiopathology
  • Risk Factors
  • Urinary Tract Physiological Phenomena*