Leif G. Tallgren

Acute Renal Failure In Pregnancy

During pregnancy renal changes and pathological conditions of renal origin sometimes develop, among which toxaemia of pregnancy is the most frequent. But other serious disturbances of renal function occur, which may suddenly complicate an apparently normal pregnancy. In the early stage the chief cause of renal failure is abortion, often criminal. In these cases an infectious, toxic or haemolytic factor is usually also involved ( A n t h o n e et al., rg60; Ramsay, 1964; S m i t h et al., 1965). Renal failure occurring during the late stage of pregnancy is usually due to abruptio placentae ante tempus, atonic uterine haemorrhage or toxaemia of pregnancy (Bull et al., 1955; Merr i l l , 1965; A t l a s and G a b e r m a n , 1958; K n a p p and B o n s n e s , 1960; A l w a l l , 1963, and S m i t h e t al., 1965). This paper deals with the primary cause, the clinical course and the outcome in a series of patients with acute renal complications of pregnancy, hospitalized at the Renal Ward during the years 1961-1965.