Illustration of kidney health monitoring in pregnant women with a history of preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia and Your Kidneys: What the Long Term Studies Reveal

Theo Raines in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"New research sheds light on how preeclampsia affects kidney health years after pregnancy, offering insights for prevention and monitoring."

Preeclampsia, a condition affecting 3-10% of pregnancies, is more than just a pregnancy complication. It's a significant risk factor for both maternal and perinatal health, increasing the likelihood of preterm birth and low birth weight. Beyond the immediate risks, preeclampsia can have lasting effects on a mother's health, particularly concerning her kidneys.

While factors like maternal age, socioeconomic status, and pre-existing conditions such as obesity, hypertension and diabetes are known to elevate the risk of developing preeclampsia, the long-term consequences have been a subject of ongoing research. Scientists have been actively searching for biomarkers that can predict and improve the diagnosis of preeclampsia, yet reliable screening methods remain limited.

A new study investigates the connection between preeclampsia and future kidney health by monitoring specific biomarkers in women who have experienced preeclampsia, compared to those with normal pregnancies. This research focuses on markers like urinary podocalyxin, proteinuria, and serum creatinine to assess how kidney function changes over time.

What is Podocalyxin and Why Does It Matter?

Illustration of kidney health monitoring in pregnant women with a history of preeclampsia.

Podocytes are specialized cells in the kidneys that are essential for filtering waste products from the blood. Typically, these cells are absent or found in very small numbers in the urine of healthy individuals. However, in conditions like preeclampsia, damage to the podocytes can lead to an increased presence of these cells in the urine, a phenomenon known as podocyturia.

Urinary podocalyxin serves as a critical marker of podocyte damage. Research indicates that women with preeclampsia often have significantly elevated levels of urinary podocalyxin, suggesting that preeclampsia can directly impact the integrity of the kidney's filtration system. Monitoring podocalyxin levels can provide valuable insights into the extent of kidney damage associated with preeclampsia.

Podocalyxin: A protein found on the surface of podocytes, crucial for maintaining kidney filtration.
Preeclampsia: A pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of organ damage, often affecting the kidneys.
Podocyturia: The presence of podocytes in the urine, indicating potential kidney damage.

The study followed eleven patients with preeclampsia and eight patients with normal pregnancies, collecting urine and serum samples during pregnancy, postpartum, and three years after delivery. Measurements of urine podocalyxin, urine protein, and serum creatinine were taken to assess kidney function. After three years, the study found no significant differences in urinary podocalyxin levels between the preeclampsia group and the control group, with values of 4.34 ng/mg and 7.66 ng/mg, respectively (p = 0.77). Similarly, urinary protein excretion showed no significant difference (81.5 mg/g vs. 43.2 mg/g, p = 0.23), and serum creatinine levels were comparable (0.86 mg/dL vs. 0.8 mg/dL, p = 0.74).

What This Means for You

While the study offers reassuring evidence that kidney function tends to normalize in most women after preeclampsia, it also highlights the importance of long-term monitoring. Consistent with other studies, the research confirmed higher levels of urinary podocalyxin and protein during pregnancy in those with preeclampsia. Although these levels decreased over time, two patients in the preeclampsia group still had proteinuria three years postpartum, underscoring the need for continued vigilance. If you have a history of preeclampsia, regular check-ups and kidney function tests are essential to ensure early detection and management of any potential issues.

About this Article -

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Everything You Need To Know

What exactly is preeclampsia, and why is it something to be concerned about?

Preeclampsia is a condition that can develop during pregnancy, characterized by high blood pressure and signs of organ damage, often affecting the kidneys. It's significant because it not only poses immediate risks to both the mother and the baby, such as preterm birth and low birth weight, but it can also have lasting effects on the mother's long-term health, particularly concerning her kidney function. Understanding preeclampsia is crucial for prevention, early detection, and management of potential long-term health issues.

What is podocalyxin, and why is it important to measure it during and after pregnancy?

Podocalyxin is a protein found on the surface of podocytes in the kidneys, which are essential for filtering waste products from the blood. It matters because urinary podocalyxin serves as a marker of podocyte damage. Elevated levels of urinary podocalyxin in women with preeclampsia suggest that the condition can directly impact the integrity of the kidney's filtration system. Monitoring podocalyxin levels can provide valuable insights into the extent of kidney damage associated with preeclampsia, although this study suggests the levels normalize for most women.

What does it mean if podocytes are found in the urine (podocyturia)?

Podocyturia refers to the presence of podocytes in the urine, which typically indicates potential kidney damage. It's important because healthy individuals should have very few or no podocytes in their urine. In the context of preeclampsia, podocyturia suggests that the condition is affecting the integrity of the kidney's filtration system. Detecting podocyturia can prompt further investigation and monitoring of kidney function to prevent long-term complications.

What are the key biomarkers that were monitored in the study, and what do they tell us about kidney health?

The biomarkers followed in the study were urinary podocalyxin, proteinuria (urine protein), and serum creatinine. These are important because they help assess kidney function. Urinary podocalyxin indicates damage to podocytes, proteinuria shows protein leakage into the urine due to impaired filtration, and serum creatinine reflects how well the kidneys are filtering waste from the blood. Monitoring these biomarkers can provide insights into the extent of kidney damage and the recovery of kidney function following preeclampsia.

Does this mean that I don't have to worry about my kidneys if I had preeclampsia during pregnancy, and why is continued vigilance essential?

While this study suggests that kidney function tends to normalize in most women after preeclampsia, the continued vigilance is essential because some women may still experience kidney-related issues years after pregnancy. Specifically, the study found that two patients in the preeclampsia group still had proteinuria three years postpartum, indicating that the effects of preeclampsia can persist. Regular check-ups and kidney function tests are vital for early detection and management of any potential long-term kidney problems.