LOW-DOSE DOPAMINE IN TREATING ACUTE-RENAL-FAILURE CAUSED BY PREECLAMPSIA

Acute renal failure is a serious complication of preeclampsia that usu ally requires the termination of pregnancy. We present a case of acute renal failure due to severe preeclampsia successfully treated with th e infusion of a low dose of dopamine. This 25-year-old Japanese primig ravida was admitted at 31 weeks of gestation for the treatment of pree clampsia. Urine output was decreased to 380 ml/day; 24-hour creatinine clearance was decreased to 13.7 liters/day. Blood urea nitogen was el evated to 31.9 mg/dl; serum creatinine was elevated to 3.34 mg/dl. The diagnosis was acute renal failure related to preeclampsia. A low dose of dopamine, 1 mu g/kg/min, was infused daily for 7 days at 32 weeks of gestation to maintain urine output. Renal function improved markedl y without any adverse effect on the patient's blood pressure which was controlled on hydralazine. Fetal distress developed 4 days later and emergency cesarean section was performed, A healthy female was deliver ed, The infusion of a low dose of dopamine appeared to be highly effec tive in managing acute renal failure caused by preeclampsia with no se rious side effects.