Acute kidney injury in pregnancy

Abstract

Pregnancy related acute kidney injury (PrAKI) is a relatively rare syndrome, and is associated with many pregnancy-unique diseases. Due to the physiological changes of pregnancy, PrAKI is difficult to diagnose, hard to predict and often diagnosed after significant damage to the kidney has manifest. In developing countries, the incidence is increased and the outcomes are poorer. Long term consequences to the mother are severe and underappreciated. An understanding of PrAKI can only be achieved once the dynamic physiological changes of pregnancy are understood and merged with insight into acute kidney injury.