Serial Studies of the Renal Clearance of Urate and Inulin during Pregnancy and after the Puerperium in Normal Women

Abstract

1. A serial study of renal clearance of urate and inulin was made in thirteen normal women in early, mid and late pregnancy and 6–15 weeks after delivery. 2. The mean serum urate concentration was low in early and mid pregnancy but rose in late pregnancy towards the control value. 3. Clearances of urate and inulin were consistently elevated throughout pregnancy to about 150% of the post-partum values. The ratio of clearance of urate to clearance of inulin was the same in pregnancy as it was after the puerperium. 4. The urinary excretion of urate was increased only in late pregnancy.