Renal Diseases Associated with Preeclampsia in Postmenopausal Women

Preeclampsia is a disorder that occurs during pregnancy and is characterized by hypertension and proteinuria. Consequently there is an association of preeclampsia with renal disease. However, it remains unknown what association lies between preeclampsia and de novo renal diseases in postmenopausal women. Methods: The electronic medical record was searched between April 1995 and March 2011 for renal biopsied patients with postmenopause. Information during pregnancy was obtained using the maternal health record book, which is issued from the patients’ district health office for every pregnant woman. The kidney biopsy diagnoses of glomerular diseases were basically made in accordance with the criteria given in the World Health Organization monographs of kidney disease. Results: Of the 37 women in the preeclampsia group, there were 10 with nephrosclerosis and 8 with focal segmental glomerular sclerosis. In the non-preeclampsia group of 96, 11 had nephrosclerosis and 1 with focal glomerular sclerosis. On that basis, there were more of the 2 kidney disorders in the preeclampsia than the nonpreeclampsia group with significance (P<0.05 and P<0.01 respectively). However, the prevalence of IgA nephropathy was not different between the two groups (10 vs. 20). At the time of renal biopsy, there were no differences in the levels of blood pressure, urinary excretion of protein and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Conclusion: Renal diseases diagnosed after menopause are strongly influenced by a past history of preeclampsia. Further it cannot be denied that this might contribute to cardiovascular diseases in postmenopausal women.