Pregnancy in women on dialysis - Challenges in achieving evidence-based care

Pregnancies in women on dialysis remain rare but are increasing in number.

Retrospective observational audit of seven cases from 1977 to 2022 of all women who conceived prior to dialysis or conceived whilst on dialysis.

Of a total of seven women, three were referred from regional centres in Australia, between the 6 and 20 weeks of gestation, generally without any opportunity for pre-conception counselling. Five were managed with intensive haemodialysis aiming for six sessions per week; one patient continued peritoneal dialysis until birth by caesarean section. Five women out of seven had live births, two of which were conceived whilst on dialysis. Four were delivered prematurely between 27 and 31 weeks of gestation, and one at term via spontaneous vaginal delivery.

Outcomes for women with pregnancies on dialysis benefit from intensive dialysis management however the practical implementation remains challenging. Our cases highlight the diversity of experience in our centre across two decades.