Glomerular filtration rate and levels of serum and urinary proteins in nonpregnant, pregnant and post puerperal Pakistani women.

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) was determined in non-pregnant, fullterm pregnant (38-40 weeks of gestation) and post-puerperal (8-12 weeks post-partum) women. GFR. was determined by 24 hoursendogenous creatinine clearance method. In addition, serum and urinary proteins were estimated in these women to examine whether or not these parameters were also associated with the possible alterations of GFR during pregnancy. The data obtained revealed that GFR is considerably higher in Pakistani women as compared to the values reported from temperate countries. At full term, GFR was observed to fall significantly. The mechanism of fall might be some hormonal influ-ence working in terminal stages of pregnancy. The GFR returns to normal after 8-12 weeks of puerperium. Total serum proteins at terminal stage of pregaancy were significantly lower than non-pregnant levels. During post-puerperal stage, they were slightly raised but there was no significant difference from the levels in the full term pregnancy. In pregnancy total excretion of urinary protein increased significantly than in the nonpregnant women, indicating a functional proteinuria. The total urinary protein levels apparently returned to normal after puerperium as the values were not significantly different from non-pregnant stage. This may be due to removal of the physiological stresses of pregnancy. Low GFR during terminal pregnancy was found to be associated with proteinuria (JPMA 32.257, 1982).