Minimal change disease in pregnancy

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Obstetrics
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Minimal change disease (MCD) is an uncommon cause of nephrotic syndrome.
• Pregnancy presents unique challenges for diagnosing and managing kidney diseases like MCD.
• Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a significant risk in pregnant patients with new-onset MCD.

Observation:

• A pregnant patient at 19 weeks gestation was diagnosed with MCD via renal biopsy.
• The patient required hemodialysis temporarily due to kidney complications.
• Nephrotic syndrome and renal dysfunction were observed.

Findings:

• Steroid therapy initiated within one month led to normalized renal function.
• Resolution of nephrotic syndrome was achieved with treatment.
• Renal biopsy confirmed MCD diagnosis during pregnancy.

Implications:

• Minimal change disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of new-onset proteinuria during pregnancy.
• Renal biopsy is a valuable tool for diagnosing MCD in pregnant patients.
• Prompt initiation of steroid therapy and supportive hemodialysis can improve outcomes for MCD in pregnancy.