[Fetal and neonatal effects of maternal treatment with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor]

BACKGROUND. Exposure of pregnant women to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor may have side effects on the fetus or newborn, mainly oligoamnios and impaired renal function. CASE REPORT N zero 1. A 34 year-old woman was given enalapril from the onset of her pregnancy because of hypertension from the age of 18 years. Oligoamnios was diagnosed in the fetus on gestational week 28; enalapril was then replaced by nifedipine but this drug was badly tolerated so that the woman was again given enalapril 8 days later. The baby (1700 g) was born by cesarean section at gestational week 34 because of acute distress syndrome; he developed hypotension, anuria, generalized oedema and was placed in intensive care. Treatment included ventilation, sympathomimetic agents, and diuretics. An exchange-transfusion followed by peritoneal dialysis was performed a few hours later. Renal function returned to normal between the 3rd and 5th day. Unilateral kidney hypoplasia was diagnosed at the age of 2 years. CASE N zero 2. A 24 year-old woman was given enalapril at the third trimester of a twin pregnancy. Delivery was full term at 37 weeks. The first baby, a boy weighing 2610 g, suffered from hypoglycemia and vomiting followed by hypotension and oliguria that required exchange-transfusion and repeated peritoneal dialysis. This boy has developed moderate chronic renal failure and hypertension. The second baby, a girl weighing 2,165 g, suffered from respiratory distress syndrome followed by hypotension and oliguria, but her renal function returned to normal within a few days. CONCLUSIONS. The use of angiotension converting enzyme inhibitor by pregnant women places the fetus at severe risk: treatment with this type of drug should be stopped as soon as pregnancy is confirmed.