Pre-pregnancy counselling for women with chronic kidney disease: a retrospective analysis of nine years' experience.

BACKGROUND: Women with chronic kidney disease have an increased risk of maternal and fetal complications in pregnancy. Pre-pregnancy counselling is recommended but the format of the counselling process and the experience of the patient have never been assessed. This study examines the experience of women with chronic kidney disease attending pre-pregnancy counselling and evaluates their pregnancy outcomes. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional assessment of 179 women with chronic kidney disease attending a pre-pregnancy counselling clinic (2003-2011) with retrospective evaluation of aetiology, comorbidity, treatment and adverse pregnancy outcome compared with 277 hospital controls. It includes an analysis of descriptive data and free text content from 72 questionnaire responders. RESULTS: 65/72 (90%) of women found the clinic informative. 66 women (92%) felt that the consultation had helped them decide about pursuing pregnancy. 12 women (17%) found the multidisciplinary process intimidating. Free text comments supported the positive nature of the counselling experience, but also highlighted issues of access and emotional impact. Adverse pregnancy outcome rates were significantly higher in women with chronic kidney disease: 7/35 (20%) had pre-eclampsia (p < 0.001), 8/35 (23%) infants were small for gestational age (p < 0.001), 11/35 (31%) had preterm deliveries (<37 weeks) (p < 0.001) and 5/35 (14%) had a pregnancy loss compared with 4%, 10%, 8% and 3% of controls respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Women with a diverse range of renal disease severity and complexity attend pre-pregnancy counselling. Factors affecting pregnancy include hypertension, proteinuria and teratogenic medication. It is important to be able to inform women of the risks to them and their babies before pregnancy in order to facilitate informed-decision making. Most women with chronic kidney disease attending a pre-pregnancy counselling clinic report a positive experience.

Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome: a rare cause of postpartum headache.

We describe two women presenting with severe postpartum headache associated with hypertension but with no other signs or investigation results to suggest pre-eclampsia. In one case, the headache was associated with atypical subarachnoid haemorrhage. The variable nature of the headache and the degree of associated hypertension raised the clinical suspicion of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome, confirmed on MR angiography. Both patients took nimodipine until the cerebral vasoconstriction had resolved radiologically.

Rare immune-mediated pneumonitis in association with post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.

We describe the case of a 48-year-old man with an acute nephritis and respiratory failure. Clinical history, streptococcal antibody titres and renal biopsy led to a diagnosis of post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis. Respiratory investigations excluded pulmonary oedema and infection. We hypothesize that this man had a co-existing post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis and an immune-mediated pneumonitis. This is a very rare association, which was last described in 1982.

Reproductive health and pregnancy in women with chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with reduced fertility and an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Rates of pre-eclampsia, fetal growth restriction and preterm delivery increase incrementally with the severity of CKD and proteinuria. Pre-pregnancy counselling can facilitate informed decision-making. Safe and effective contraception is required for women who wish to delay or avoid pregnancy. Pregnancy planning for women who wish to conceive involves appropriate substitution of known teratogens - including mycophenolate mofetil, angiotensin blockers and cyclophosphamide - and can aid optimization of disease control. However, pregnancy, which can occur in women with any stage of CKD, can exacerbate comorbidities such as anaemia, vitamin D deficiency and hypertension. Increased haemodialysis provision is associated with improved pregnancy outcomes for women on dialysis. Diagnosis of pre-eclampsia in women with CKD is complicated in patients with pre-existing hypertension and proteinuria but can be improved by the use of vasoactive biomarkers as well as placental and fetal Doppler ultrasound. Pregnancy data for newer drugs used in CKD are limited as pregnancy and CKD are common exclusion criteria for drug and intervention trials. Although prospective data may be available for older drugs, the use of most drugs in pregnancy is based on retrospective data and expert consensus.

Silent obstruction in a young woman with systemic lupus erythematosus: a case report and literature review on kidney injury from ureteral endometriosis.

INTRODUCTION: Endometriosis is the most common pelvic gynaecologic disorder affecting pre-menopausal women. However ureteral endometriosis (UE) especially intrinsic urinary tract endometriosis is a rare finding that is notorious for causing silent renal insult. The pathogenesis of endometriosis still remains a mystery but studies have suggested an association between endometriosis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) suggesting an immunological aspect to endometriosis. There is very little recognition in the renal literature of the significance of UE leading to progressive kidney injury and the association with autoimmune conditions in particular SLE. CASE DESCRIPTION: We present a case of a 30-year old female with a background history of SLE with a silent progressive kidney injury due to an obstructive uropathy secondary to bilateral intrinsic UE and severe loss of her left kidney function that was treated with ureteric stenting. She subsequently underwent bilateral re-implantation of her ureters as a definitive treatment plan as she expressed a wish to conceive. DISCUSSION: Progressive kidney injury as a result of UE has been reported in the past, however its true incidence is not known. The time of diagnosis is crucial as it reflects renal prognosis. This article outlines the clinical implications from the renal perspective of the disease considering the relevant health problem UE can impose to women. This paper discusses the emerging evidence of an association between SLE and endometriosis that remains poorly understood. CONCLUSION: A high index of suspicion is required to diagnose UE as the disease occurs insidiously with non-specific symptoms leading to a silent obstructive uropathy. If missed it can ultimately lead to irreversible kidney dysfunction and mortality. We suggest that patients with endometriosis especially UE should be followed up regularly with renal function testing and imaging. Any health professionals dealing with patients suffering from SLE should consider appropriate investigations and referral if any symptom that suggests endometriosis is reported.

Bilateral renal artery thrombosis in inherited thrombophilia: a rare cause of acute kidney injury.

We describe the case of a 47-year-old man who developed significant acute, and subsequently chronic, kidney injury due to bilateral renal infarction. This occurred in the context of a combined inherited thrombophilia including antithrombin III deficiency and a prothrombin gene mutation. Bilateral renal artery thrombosis developed despite prophylactic treatment for thromboembolism. Arterial thrombosis is rare in the context of inherited thrombophilia and bilateral renal infarction is an unusual cause of acute kidney injury. Bilateral renal infarction due to primary renal artery thrombosis has not been previously described in antithrombin III deficiency, either as an isolated defect or in combination with other hereditary thrombophilia.