1998 Volume 31 Issue 12 Pages 1455-1459
A 28-year-old woman on maintenance hemodialysis became pregnant and was admitted to our hospital. She had received hemodialysis therapy for 6 years due to right hydronephrosis and left renal hypoplasia. She exhibited residual renal function and her maximal urine volume was 700ml per day without hemodialysis therapy. Some modifications of her dialysis therapy were introduced after admission, including a frequent dialysis schedule, careful gradual increase of her dry weight, use of rHuEPO, high performance membrane dialysers, and nafamostat mesilate as an anticoagulant. Vigorous obstetric care was also started to prevent uterine infection and constriction. As her pregnancy was maintained without complicating polyhydramnios, therapeutic amniocentesis was not required. She delivered an appropriate-for-date child at the 38th gestational week.
Pregnancies in dialysis patients are relatively rare and are associated with a high risk of miscarriage and preterm delivery. In the present case, residual renal function and early admission likely contributed to maintaining her pregnancy until full-term without serious complications.
