RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: To study the course of pregnancy after renal transplantation and to assess the impact of the pregnancy on the renal graft. MATERIAL AND METHODS: [corrected] Retrospective study of 20 pregnancies from 16 renal transplant recipients between January 1987 and December 1998. Mean patient age was 30.3 +/- 4 years. Mean time between transplantation and the onset of pregnancy was 56.4 +/- 34.8 months. RESULTS: The main maternal complications were hypertensive disorders (7 cases) of which 3 preeclampsia. The mean gestational age at delivery was 36 +/- 3.1 weeks. Ten patients delivered prematurely of which 9 were induced prematurity. Nine cesarean sections were carried out either for obstetrical reasons or for causes not directly related to the transplantation. The mean neonatal weight was 2386 +/- 644 g with five small for gestational age. We did not observe any acute rejection. The follow up revealed six cases of chronic rejection. None of them seemed directly related to the pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The course of pregnancy after renal transplantation is generally uncomplicated without increased risk of graft lose. However, a stable renal function and an interval of two years or more after the transplantation are requested before allowing a pregnancy. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus or impaired renal function (creatininemia > 150 mumol/l) are contraindications for pregnancy.
