Pregnancy in chronic dialysis. A case report and a review of the literature
Villa, G.; Montagna, G.; Segagni, S.
Giornale Italiano di Nefrologia Organo Ufficiale Della Societa Italiana di Nefrologia 24(2): 132-140
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0393-5590 PMID: 17458828 Document Number: 610051
A case report of a pregnancy in a patient with end-stage renal disease on chronic dialysis is presented. The epidemiological data regarding this rare event and the factors influencing and limiting fertility in uremic women are discussed. The outcomes of pregnancy in dialysis as reported in national registries and literature series are analyzed. For the management of pregnancy in dialysis several practical problems have to be dealt with: the type of dialysis, sterilization of dialysis materials, dialysis dose, dialysis bath composition, extracorporeal circuit anticoagulation, and the diet of the pregnant woman. All these issues are discussed, with special attention to solutions facilitating the best outcome of pregnancy. Finally, the main complications of both normal and uremic pregnancies, anemia and hypertension, are discussed together with the solutions proposed in this particular condition.