Renal vascular hypertension during pregnancy.

We report two women with renal artery stenosis in pregnancy. The first patient presented with severe hypertension in the first and second trimesters characterized by an extremely high vascular resistance (maximum 2455 dyne.second.cm-5). Transluminal angioplasty was performed at 20 weeks' gestation, resulting in resolution of the patient's hypertension. After angioplasty, her vascular resistance fell to 1600 dyne.second.cm-5, but did not reach normal pregnant levels. The pregnancy was carried to term without complication. The second patient's hypertension improved during pregnancy, and she delivered at term without complication. Twelve weeks postpartum, the patient again became severely hypertensive, and transluminal angioplasty was performed.