Urolithiasis in pregnancy. Diagnosis, management and pregnancy outcome

Abstract

Objective: To review our experiences with ureterolithiasis and nephrolithiasis in pregnancy and compare their outcomes with those in the rest of the obstetric population.

Study design: A database of obstetric deliveries was used to identify patients with (cases) and without (controls) urolithiasis and to compare demographics and pregnancy complications between the groups. Furthermore, retrospective chart review of the cases group was utilized to obtain additional pertinent information.

Results: Over a 3-year period, there were 21,010 deliveries, 86 of which had symptomatic urolithiasis, for an incidence of 1 in 244 pregnancies. Renal calculi occurred more commonly in Caucasians than African Americans. Patients were more likely to become symptomatic in the second or third trimester, and most stones passed spontaneously. Pregnancy complications were similar between the groups; however, there was a higher percentage of preterm premature rupture of membranes in the nephrolithiasis cases (7.0% vs. 2.9%, P < .05).

Conclusion: Nephrolithiasis and ureterolithiasis occurred more commonly in Caucasians during pregnancy. The majority of patients became symptomatic in the last two-thirds of pregnancy and usually passed the calculus spontaneously. A higher incidence of preterm premature rupture of membranes was noted in pregnancies complicated by urolithiasis.