Mesangial IgA nephropathy in pregnancy.

The clinical and renal biopsy findings in a group of 12 patients with mesangial IgA nephropathy who had 22 pregnancies are recorded. Seventeen pregnancies were successful. Hypertension was noted in 9 pregnancies and in 12, features of pre-eclamptic toxaemia developed. One patient had post-partum eclampsia. Proteinuria tended to increase during pregnancy and one patient developed nephrotic syndrome which resolved after delivery. Glomerular lesions in these women differed from those in non-pregnant patients with mesangial IgA nephropathy. Focal and segmental proliferative and hyalinosis-sclerosis changes were seen far more frequently than is usual in biopsies from patients with mesangial IgA nephropathy, suggesting that focal and segmental lesions develop during pregnancy.