Bartter's syndrome in pregnancy: a case report and review

Abstract

Bartter's syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by hypokalemia, hyperaldosteronism, sodium wasting, normal blood pressure, hypochloremic alkalosis, and hyperplasia of the juxtaglomerular apparatus. We present a 21-year-old African-American nulliparous patient who was referred to our clinic at 9 weeks' gestation with a history of Bartter's syndrome. Her antenatal course was complicated by muscle cramps, which required increasing potassium supplementation. She developed hypomagnesemia in the third trimester of pregnancy, which necessitated magnesium therapy. She delivered an unaffected infant at term. Bartter's syndrome, although extremely rare in pregnancy, requires prompt recognition and careful management, as it may have significant maternal and neonatal implications.