Renal physiology and fluid and electrolyte disorders in pregnancy

The majority of women are healthy entering pregnancy and do not require measurement of renal function or serum electrolytes. Clinicians must remain alert to the possibility of renal as well as fluid and electrolyte disorders in pregnancy, as the presenting complaints are often vague and mistaken for the normal physiology of pregnancy. In this chapter, our objectives are 1) to review the renal physiology from a practical/clinical standpoint; 2) to provide the clinical obstetrician a case-based approach to fluid and electrolyte disorders commonly encountered in pregnancy; 3) to consolidate knowledge on renal physiology and fluid and electrolyte disorders in pregnancy with MCQs that are directly aligned with content; and 4) to highlight key practice points and present a research agenda.