The biochemical functions of the renal tubules and glomeruli in the courseof intrahepatic cholestasis in pregnancy

Biochemical functions of kidney glomeruli and tubules were estimated in pre gnancy complicated by cholestasis. The investigated group consisted of 72 w omen with pregnancy complicated by cholestasis and 30 healthy pregnant pati ents as a control group. Biochemical assays were performed for the deaminat ion of amino acids, carbonic acid dissociation and creatinine metabolism. S tatistical analysis was carried out using the t-test and P<0.05 was conside red to be significant. In diurnal urine samples collected from pregnant pat ients with cholestasis, decreased concentrations of NH4+ (42.0+/-8.9 versus 50.3+/-7.6 mmol/24 h), H+ (19.0+/-7.0 versus 25.0+/-5.0 mmol/24 h), creati nine (1.15+/-0.2 versus 1.43+/-0.3 mmol/24 h) as well as lower levels of cr eatinine clearance (89.0+/-23.0 versus 135.0+/-30.0 ml/min) and normal leve ls of potassium and sodium were observed. Serum creatinine and uric acid co ncentrations were elevated (86.6+/-7.07 versus 66.3+/-4.42 mu mol/l and 32. 1+/-8.3 versus 19.0+/-3.57 mu mol/l). Diurnal urine volume was lower in pat ients with cholestasis than in the control group (995+/-313 versus 1264+/-4 26 ml/24 h). Disturbances of biochemical functions of kidney glomeruli and tubules, regarding creatinine metabolism and deamination of amino acids, an d dissociation of carbonic acid, were seen in patients with cholestasis dur ing pregnancy. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.