Elevated levels of renal function tests conferred increased risks of developing various pregnancy complications and adverse perinatal outcomes: insights from a population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Physiological changes during pregnancy can affect the results of renal function tests (RFTs). In this population-based cohort study, we aimed to establish trimester-specific reference intervals (RIs) of RFTs in singleton and twin pregnancies and systematically investigate the relationship between RFTs and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

METHODS: The laboratory results of the first- and third-trimester RFTs, including blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum uric acid (UA), creatinine (Crea) and cystatin C (Cys C), and the relevant medical records, were retrieved from 29,328 singleton and 840 twin pregnant women who underwent antenatal examinations from November 20, 2017 to January 31, 2021. The trimester-specific RIs of RFTs were estimated with both of the direct observational and the indirect Hoffmann methods. The associations between RTFs and pregnancy complications as well as perinatal outcomes were assessed by logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS: Maternal RFTs showed no significant difference between the direct RIs established with healthy pregnant women and the calculated RIs derived from the Hoffmann method. In addition, elevated levels of RFTs were associated with increased risks of developing various pregnancy complications and adverse perinatal outcomes. Notably, elevated third-trimester RFTs posed strong risks of preterm birth (PTB) and fetal growth restriction (FGR).

CONCLUSIONS: We established the trimester-specific RIs of RFTs in both singleton and twin pregnancies. Our risk analysis findings underscored the importance of RFTs in identifying women at high risks of developing adverse complications or outcomes during pregnancy.