Influence of gestation on renal function in gravida with IgA nephropathy

Nineteen pregnancies in 17 women with IgA nephropathy (IgAGN) were studied in terms of the influence of gestation on the natural course of renal function in IgAGN. We performed serial examinations of the serum creatinine (S-Cr) levels before and during pregnancy and after delivery. Group I comprised 11 pregnancies in 10 gravida who revealed proteinuria (1.1 +/- 0.7 g/day; mean +/- SD) and microhematuria before pregnancy. The S-Cr before pregnancy averaged 0.86 +/- 0.13 mg/dl. Group II comprised 8 pregnancies in 7 gravida who showed isolated microhematuria. The S-Cr before pregnancy averaged 0.81 +/- 0.06 mg/dl. In group I, S-Cr did not decrease during pregnancy and was elevated at delivery and at 1-4 weeks after delivery (1.03 +/- 0.29 mg/dl, p less than 0.05) in comparison with the level before pregnancy. In group II, S-Cr decreased significantly during pregnancy and was not elevated at delivery or after delivery. The above results suggest that gestation had a slight and transient adverse effect on renal function in IgAGN with proteinuria.