Risk for Kidney Stones in Pregnancy

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Apr 18, 2022 | Miri Levi | @midwifemiri

Mayo study finds that pregnancy increases the risk of developing kidney stones for the first time

The Mayo Clinic O’Brien Urology Research Center, with support from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease completed research that showed that pregnant women are at higher risk of developing kidney stones for the first time. The risk is the highest close to delivery but lasts for up to a year after delivery.  

Jay Furst reported on the story through the Mayo Clinic News Network:  

Though researchers have long known that several physiological and anatomical changes occur during pregnancy that can contribute to kidney stone formation, evidence of the link has been lacking. But now Mayo Clinic researchers believe they have that evidence. 

An observational study that reviewed the medical records for nearly 3,000 female patients from 1984 to 2012 finds that pregnancy increases the risk of a first-time symptomatic kidney stone. The risk peaks close to delivery and then improves by one year after delivery, though a modest risk of developing kidney stones continues beyond one year after delivery. This finding implies that while most kidney stones that form during pregnancy are detected early by painful passage, some may remain stable in the kidney undetected for a longer period before dislodging and resulting in a painful passage. 

A symptomatic kidney stone event is the most common non-obstetric hospital admission diagnosis for pregnant women. A symptomatic kidney stone event occurs in 1 of every 250–1,500 pregnancies, research shows, most often occurring during the second and third trimesters. Kidney stones, though uncommon, can cause significant complications, ranging from preeclampsia and urinary tract infection to preterm labor and delivery, and pregnancy loss. 

 Read the full story on the risk for kidney stones in pregnancy at the Mayo Clinic News Network.