Hypovolaemia, pre-eclampsia and diuretics.

Six patients with severe pre-eclampsia were found to have low central venous pressures. This was considered to be an indication that hypovolaemia was present, depsite concurrent generalized oedema. Treatment with sufficient intravenous saline and albumin, to restore the central venous pressure to normal, resulted in improved renal function and avoidance of permanent renal impairment in all cases. These observations support the view that diuretics should not be administered to patients with pre-eclampsia.