Intensive Dialysis in Pregnant Women with Kidney Failure Benefits Mothers and Babies

In a study of 42 pregnant women with kidney failure, those who underwent dialysis for more than 36 hours per week had a live birth rate of 85%, compared with 48% in women dialyzed for 20 hours or less per week. Infants were a healthier weight at birth when women were dialyzed for more than 20 hours per week than when women were dialyzed for 20 hours or less per week. Pregnancy complications were few and manageable in patients receiving intensive dialysis. The findings are published in JASN.