Salt, diuretics and pregnancy.

This article reviews the homeostasis of water and salt in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancy. During pre-eclampsia there is a decrease in circulating plasma volume, which the administration of diuretics reduces still further. There is no proof that diuretics have a beneficial effect on prevention or treatment of toxemia of pregnancy. They should thus be regarded as contraindicated, except in cases of cardiac insufficiency and certain renal diseases.