Pregnancy in IgA nephropathy.

The impacts of IgA nephropathy and pregnancy on each other were evaluated in 118 women who conceived 168 times between 1970 and 1988. Rates of spontaneous abortion, normal delivery, live birth and perinatal death were 9, 66, 87 and 4%, respectively. Infants born to women with glomerular filtration rates (GFR) lower than 70 ml/min prior to conception had a higher perinatal mortality rate (14% vs. 3%, P less than 0.001). This was also true if pre-pregnancy blood pressures were consistently higher than 140/90 mm Hg (33% vs. 1%, P less than 0.001). These were the figures for the whole 18 year period, but stratification of the data revealed that most adverse results occurred in the 1970's, during which the perinatal death rate was 9%, while it was 0% in the 1980's. Eighty-five women were followed for three years or more. At final follow-up, the rates of decrease in GFR, and increases in blood pressure and proteinuria were 19, 11 and 7%, respectively. In most patients the natural history of IgA nephropathy was similar to that of women who had not experienced pregnancy, but there were five instances where gestation seemed to accelerate functional loss, with rapid development of end-stage or near end-stage renal failure. Most women with IgA nephropathy should anticipate few problems with pregnancy, if they are normotensive and their preconception GFR exceeds 70 ml/min. The gestation in such instances should have little influence on the natural history of their nephropathy.