Pregnancy in a woman undergoing peritoneal dialysis: Management and dialysis options
Rita Veríssimo, Estela Nogueira, João Bernardo, Marta Pereira, Cristina Pinto Abreu, Noelia López, Cristina Resina, Patrícia Matias, José António Lopes, Patrícia Branco, Luísa Pinto
Abstract
Pregnancy in patients with end-stage renal disease on maintenance dialysis is uncommon, with annual incidences reported at 0.3 - 2.7%. Peritoneal dialysis usage in pregnancy has been less reported than hemodialysis, although outcomes are similar. Nowadays, there are insufficient data to establish a generalizable dialysis strategy in pregnant women with end-stage renal disease. As such, decisions should be individualized, depending on clinical factors, residual renal function, and, whenever possible, choice of the patient. We report the case of a 22-year-old patient receiving peritoneal dialysis who delivered a full-term, normal weight, healthy baby with increased dialysis dose achieved by supplementary hemodialysis during pregnancy, thus enabling peritoneal dialysis to be continued until the third trimester and minimizing hemodialysis requirements.