Focal sclerosing glomerulopathy with adverse effects during pregnancy

Exacerbation of focal sclerosing glomerulopathy (FSGN) during pregnancy was noted in the three patients. All had antecedent asymptomatic proteinuria. Toxemia developed in two of the women during pregnancy and progressed rapidly to renal failure. Severe nephrotic syndrome developed in one patient with pregnancy and remitted after delivery. These cases suggest a deleterious effect of pregnancy on the course of FSGN and indicate the necessity for doing renal biopsy in women of childbearing age with asymptomatic fixed proteinuria or nephrotic syndrome so that those patients with FSGN can be properly counseled about future pregnancies.