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

Biochemical functions of kidney glomeruli and tubules were estimated in pregnancy complicated by cholestasis. The investigated group consisted of 72 women with pregnancy complicated by cholestasis and 30 healthy pregnant patients as a control group. Biochemical assays were performed for the deamination of amino acids, carbonic acid dissociation and creatinine metabolism. Statistical analysis was carried out using the t-test and P<0.05 was considered to be significant. In diurnal urine samples collected from pregnant patients 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), creatinine (1.15+/-0.2 versus 1.43+/-0.3 mmol/24 h) as well as lower levels of creatinine clearance (89.0+/-23.0 versus 135.0+/-30.0 ml/min) and normal levels of potassium and sodium were observed. Serum creatinine and uric acid concentrations 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 patients with cholestasis than in the control group (995+/-313 versus 1264+/-426 ml/24 h). Disturbances of biochemical functions of kidney glomeruli and tubules, regarding creatinine metabolism and deamination of amino acids, and dissociation of carbonic acid, were seen in patients with cholestasis during pregnancy. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.