Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 14, Issue 4 291-294, Copyright © 1995 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
The sonographic appearance of renal transplants during pregnancy
D. Levine, R. A. Filly and M. Graber
Department of Radiology, University of California-San Francisco, USA.
This study evaluates the sonographic appearance of renal allografts during
pregnancy. Baseline and intrapartum sonograms and serum creatinine levels
from 19 women with 24 pregnancies were evaluated. In 15 of the 22
pregnancies with more than one examination, renal dilatation increased
during gestation. The degree of dilatation was minimal to mild, with
moderate dilatation present only in the third trimester. There were no
cases of severe dilatation. Change in renal dilatation was seen in eight of
eight patients with normal renal function, four of six patients with
moderate renal impairment, and in zero of two patients with severe renal
impairment. Normal transplant morphology or a single abnormal criterion was
found in 23 of 24 pregnancies. Transplant morphology is not affected by
pregnancy. Renal allografts in asymptomatic patients frequently demonstrate
minimal to mild dilatation during pregnancy. The ability of the transplant
kidney to dilate decreases with worsening renal function.
