Henoch-Schönlein (anaphylactoid) nephropathy in pregnancy

A rare case of Henoch-Schönlein nephropathy in pregnancy is described. The course of the patient's stable nephrotic syndrome was unchanged in early and middle pregnancy. The early third trimester was complicated by superimposed pregnancy-induced hypertension and deterioration of renal and placental function. Methylprednisolone was employed to induce fetal pulmonary surfactant maturation in this high-risk obstetric case; premature delivery was required at 31 weeks' gestation. The 1320-g infant survived without respiratory distress syndrome. The mother tolerated surgery well and within a week after surgery was approaching her prepregnancy renal status.