THE EFFECT OF PREGNANCY ON CYCLOSPORINE LEVELS IN RENAL-ALLOGRAFT PATIENTS

Objective: To assess the effects of pregnancy on cyclosporine levels i n six renal allograft patients. Methods: Maternal demographic, laborat ory, clinical, and perinatal outcome data were recorded in six pregnan t women with previous renal allografts receiving cyclosporine immunosu ppression. The cyclosporine and serum creatinine levels were measured before pregnancy, during each trimester, and postpartum. Results: The mean (standard deviation [SD]) maternal age was 29.1 (3.8) years. Pari ty ranged from 9 to 3. Mean serum creatinine levels tended to be lower during pregnancy than before or after, as did the mean cyclosporine l evels. After adjusting for dose, five of six patients had declines in cyclosporine level during pregnancy. The mean (SD) gestational age at delivery was 37.5 (2.8) weeks with a mean (SD) birth weight of 2837 (5 38) g. Conclusion: Pregnancy in patients with renal allografts can lea d to a substantial decline in cyclosporine levels. (C) 1997 by The Ame rican College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.