CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PHYSIOLOGICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND FUNCTIONING OF THE KIDNEYS IN WOMEN

Abstract

The kidneys play a central role for the developing pregnancy, responding to andcontributing to changes in the environment for the woman and the fetus. Impaired renal functionduring pregnancy is a fairly common and serious complication. Understanding normal physiologyduring pregnancy provides a basis for further study of the changes during pregnancy that lead toimpaired renal function and may provide the key to its better management. This review systematizesinformation about physiologic changes in the kidneys before pregnancy, during the normalprogression of pregnancy, and when abnormal conditions are present or develop for a variety ofreasons.