[Case report on the administration of diuretics during pregnancy]

Diuretics potentiate existing hypovolaemia and hämoconcentration in patients suffering from toxemia of pregnancy. This effect also applies to the fetus. A case is presented of an intrauterine spontaneous thrombosis in the inferior vena cava and its tributaries in a fetus with resulting perinatal death during long-term diuretic therapy because of edema in the mother in the third trimester. Basing on this example, the present state of assessment and necessity of treatment of the symptom "edema" in late pregnancy is discussed, with the conclusion that administration of diuretics, if it becomes necessary in a life-threatening state of the pregnant mother (pulmonary edema or oliguria in pre-eclampsia or eclampsia) is indicated only with monitoring of the hematocrit and central venous pressure.