Pregnancy Among Women with Kidney Transplantation: A 20-Years Single-Center Registry

Abstract

Objective To assess maternal and perinatal outcomes in pregnancies after kidney transplantation in a tertiary center in Brazil.

Methods Retrospective cohort of pregnancies in women with kidney transplantation at the Universidade Estadual de Campinas, from January 1995 until December 2017. Medical charts were reviewed, and maternal and perinatal outcomes were described as means and frequencies. Renal function and blood pressure were evaluated during pregnancy and postpartum.

Results A total of 22 women had at least 1 pregnancy during the considered time interval, and 3 of them had > 1 pregnancy, totalizing 25 pregnancies. The mean age at transplantation was of 24.6 ± 4.2 years old, and the mean time interval until pregnancy was of 67.8 ± 46.3 months. The most frequent complication during pregnancy was hypertension, which affected 11 (64.7%) women. The gestational age at delivery was 34.7 ± 4 weeks, and 47% of these pregnancies were preterm (< 37 weeks). A total of 88.2% of the women delivered by cesarean section. Renal function, measured by serum creatinine, remained stable during pregnancy, and the systolic blood pressure increased significantly, while the diastolic blood pressure did not differ during pregnancy.

Conclusion Pregnancy after kidney transplantation is a rare event. Pre-eclampsia and prematurity were frequent complications, and cesarean section rates were very high. A specialized antenatal and postpartum care with a multiprofessional approach and continuous monitoring of graft function are essential for the early diagnosis of complications and improved outcomes.

Resumo

Objetivo Avaliar os resultados maternos e perinatais de gestações em mulheres transplantadas renais em um centro terciário no Brasil.

Métodos Coorte retrospectiva de gestações entre mulheres transplantadas renais na Universidade Estadual de Campinas, de Janeiro de 1995 a Dezembro de 2017. Os prontuários médicos foram revisados, e os resultados maternos e perinatais foram descritos como médias e frequências. A função renal e a pressão arterial foram avaliadas durante a gravidez e o puerpério.

Resultados Um total de 22 mulheres tiveram ao menos 1 gravidez durante o período avaliado, e 3 delas tiveram > 1 gestação, totalizado 25 gestações. A idade média no momento do transplante foi 24.6 ± 4.2 anos, e o tempo médio de intervalo até a gravidez foi de 67.8 ± 46.3 meses. A complicação mais frequente durante a gravidez foi a hipertensão, que acometeu 11 (64.7%) mulheres. A idade gestacional no parto foi de 34.7 ± 4 semanas, e 47% das gestações encerraram-se prematuramente (< 37 semanas). Um total de 88.2% das gestações terminou com uma cesárea. A função renal, avaliada pela creatinina sérica, permaneceu estável durante a gravidez, enquanto a pressão arterial sistólica aumentou significativamente. A pressão arterial diastólica não diferiu ao longo dos períodos avaliados.

Conclusão Gestação após o transplante renal é um evento raro. Pré-eclâmpsia e prematuridade foram as complicações mais frequentes, e as taxas de cesárea foram muito altas. O cuidado multiprofissional no pré-natal e no puerpério e a constante monitoração da função do enxerto são fundamentais para diagnosticar precocemente complicações e melhorar os resultados.

Keywords

kidney transplantation - pregnancy - high-risk - hypertension - premature birth - dialysis

Palavras-chave

transplante renal - gravidez de alto risco - hipertensão - parto prematuro - diálise

Contributors

Mariano S. contributed by collecting data and writing the first draft; Guida J. P. S. contributed by performing the statistical analysis and writing the first draft; Sousa M. V. contributed by collecting data and writing the first draft; Parpinelli M. A. and Surita F. G. had the original idea for the present study, supervised the data collection and reviewed the first draft; Mazzali M. and Costa M. L. coordinated the present study, reviewed the medical charts and reviewed the first draft.

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