Acute Renal Insufficiency in Pregnancy: A Review of Thirty Cases

Abstract

A review of women with acute changes in renal function during pregnancy including cases with only mild or moderate azotemia was performed to determine the etiology, associated disorders and frequency of this problem in an inner-city population. A retrospective review of the clinical and laboratory data of all patients admitted to the Tulane Obstetric Service at Charity Hospital of New Orleans from 1985-1989 that contained a final diagnosis of hypertension, pre-eclampsia/eclampsia or renal disease was performed to determine if acute renal insufficiency or renal failure occurred during that admission. Renal disease was defined as a serum creatinine level of greater than or equal to 1.2 mg/dl with either a rising or falling level during the hospitalization. Thirty cases of either acute renal insufficiency or renal failure during pregnancy were identified with an incidence of one in 450 deliveries. Seventeen women had either pre-eclampsia or eclampsia. Their clinical and biochemical characteristics were revie...