A successful term pregnancy using in-center intensive quotidian hemodialysis

Abstract

A 30-year-old woman with stage V chronic kidney disease presented at 7 weeks gestation. She had no uremic symptoms; however, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was 33.6 mg/dL. Because of the well-established negative relationship between BUN and fetal outcomes, dialysis was initiated with a nocturnal home hemodialysis (NHD)-like prescription performed in-center for logistical reasons. She received 36 hours per week of dialysis. Following the initiation of renal replacement therapy, the predialysis BUN was within the normal physiologic range. The patient had an uncomplicated pregnancy with delivery of a healthy 3000 g infant at 39 weeks gestation. This case adds to the growing literature that supports more intensive dialysis in the pregnant women than was previously recommended. This dose of dialysis should be offered to women in an in-center setting if nocturnal home hemodialysis is not available or feasible.