Late follow-up in women with nephrosclerosis diagnosed at pregnancy

Thirteen nephrosclerotic women were followed for 2 to 7 years from the time a diagnosis was made following a pregnancy complicated by hypertension. Ten patients developed sustained hypertension. Twelve women who were examined responded with a hypertensive pattern to acute salt load. Of the 10 patients who were examined, seven had a reduced renal plasma flow (RPF) demonstrated by the phenolsulfonphthalein (PSP) excretion test. The present observations support the view that the vascular lesion in the kidneys precedes and persists independently of pregnancy. The pregnant state brings the hypertensive disease to clinical expression.