Can Women Nephrotic Syndrome Patients Have Pregnancy

Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disease that can occur to people of all ages, affecting both male and female. Many women patients especially young women concern whether they can have pregnancy and give birth to a healthy baby.

Nephrologists have pointed out that women nephrotic syndrome patients can have pregnancy when they achieve clinical remission. When nephrotic syndrome is cured, it will not affect the patients’ sexual life or pregnance. However if the illness conditions have not been relieved, it is better that patients should not have pregnancy until their illness becomes stable.

Patients should pay more attention to the following aspects during pregnancy for both the safety and healthy of the mother and unborn-baby.

* Pregnancy will increase burdens to the kidneys and it will definitely worsen nephrotic syndrome. Often patients will have increased proteinuria or elevated blood pressure.

* While taking any medicines for high blood pressure, swelling or proteinuria during pregnancy, it is necessary to ask for the doctor’s permission because many drugs will affect the healthy of the unborn baby such as hormones, ARB, aspirin, etc.

* If these drugs and medicines can be avoided, it is highly recommended for the healthy development of the baby during and after pregnance. Some natural herbal medicines and externally used Chinese medicines such as massage, acupuncture can also help alleviate symptoms and protect kidney functions.

If patients have the following illness conditions, pregnancy is not recommended.

1. Massive proteinuria. Because pregnancy can further lower the the level of plasma albumin and cause serious swelling and increased blood volume and blood pressure or even lead to heart failure.

2. High blood pressure and renal failure that can not be controlled with medicines. If patients have white blood cells, cast in urine besides proteinuria, hematuria, it means the illness condition is not very stable. In such conditions, pregnancy often worsen renal damages or even cause sharp decline of kidney functions.

3. Blood pressure is higher than 150/100mmHg. High blood pressure during pregnancy can cause hypertensive encephalopathy, eclampsia, stillbirth, etc. In the first 3 months of pregnancy, if the gravida has elevated blood pressure or sharp deterioration of kidney functions, prompt treatment should be sought and if necessary the pregnancy should be terminated.

4. Cystitis, hydronephrosis or other serious infections. Serious infections need to be treated with antibiotics which can affect the children’s health. When illness conditions become stable and the drugs are stopped for 2-3 months, patients can still have pregnancy.

Even if patients have these conditions, pregnancy is still possible when they are well brought under controlled. For more detailed information, welcome to consult our online doctor or send email to kidneycares@hotmail.com.