Pregnancy in inherited hypokalemic salt-losing renal tubular disorder.

Background: The management of inherited hypokalemia has improved and the issue of pregnancy has become important.

Cases: Between 1992 and 2010, five Italian women with the clinical diagnosis of Gitelman syndrome gave birth to a total of six newborns. Pregnancy was uneventful in four women but was complicated by tiredness and tetanic seizures in the fifth woman. Drug management included potassium chloride in four cases and magnesium and amiloride in one case each. The six neonates were born at term (n=4) or near term (n=2), with a body weight that was appropriate for gestational age. The children, aged between 6 weeks and 18 years, were healthy and neurodevelopmentally and somatically normal at the last follow-up.

Conclusion: Women with hypokalemia can become pregnant and the disorder may be managed without negative effect on the fetus.