[Pregnancy in a hemodialysis patient]

A 22 year-old Turkish patient on haemodialysis experienced an unplanned, but wanted pregnancy and prematurely gave birth to a viable infant. The pregnancy of a patient on haemodialysis can be complicated by hypertension, anaemia, bleeding, intrauterine growth retardation and premature delivery and has to be followed closely, with a higher frequency of haemodialysis. Fertile women on haemodialysis should be informed about birth control. After renal transplantation the chances of becoming pregnant are much higher as well as the chances of a successful outcome. The women on haemodialysis should not be dissuaded from having a pregnancy because of obstetrical and foetal risk factors, but the risks should be balanced against the odds of having a renal transplantation.