Women with a history of kidney donation are at significantly increased risk for preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and preterm birth in subsequent pregnancies, although the absolute rate of complications remains below 10%, according to a study published in the European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology. Ioannis Bellos, MD, and Vasilios Pergialiotis, MSc, PhD, conducted a meta-analysis to clarify whether kidney donors are at increased risk for future pregnancy complications. Observational studies comparing the rates of adverse pregnancy outcomes among kidney donors and non-donors were selected. Five studies were included, with 430 donors and 23,540 non-donors. Living kidney donation was associated with significantly higher risk for preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and preterm birth. The anticipated absolute rates of preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and pre-term birth were 7.4%, 5.4%, and 8.3%, respectively.

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