Renal vein thrombosis is a condition characterized by renal dysfunction secondary to a clot blocking the renal vein, which drains blood from the kidney. It is typically seen in patients suffering from nephrotic syndrome, but may also be diagnosed in individuals with renal malignancies, and hypercoagulable states. Clinical symptoms are variable and may be often masked by underlying conditions. Therefore diagnosis is based on clinical suspicion and confirmed with the radiological identification of the blood clot.
Presentation
Renal vein thrombosis (RVT) is a relatively rare condition in which a clot occludes the renal vein draining blood from the kidney and leads to renal vein infarction [1]. The exact reason why there is a predilection of the renal vein for thrombosis in as yet unknown [2]. It occurs most often in patients with nephrotic syndrome but can also affect patients with renal malignancies, anti-glomerular basement membrane disease [3], Behçet syndrome, hypercoagulable states like pregnancy [4], antiphospholipid antibody syndrome and following renal transplantation.
The clinical presentation of RVT in adults is usually insidious and asymptomatic. The first indication of the condition may be when the clot in the renal vein travels to the lungs causing pulmonary embolism with dyspnea and chest pain. Some cases may present with unilateral lower limb swelling. The onset is often sudden in children and some adults with fever, nausea, vomiting, flank pain, oliguria, gross hematuria, and proteinuria which progresses swiftly to renal failure especially in bilateral renal vein thrombosis or in patients with a single kidney [5]. The first symptom is usually flank pain occurring posterior to the lower ribs and in the region of the hips. In patients with renal malignancies, anorexia and weight loss may be predominant while patients with nephrotic syndrome may have anasarca.
Entire Body System
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Sulfur Granules
After nephrectomy, sulfur granules with chronic suppurative inflammation were seen microscopically, and the histopathological diagnosis was renal actinomycosis. Our case is the first report of renal actinomycosis with renal vein thrombosis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
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Pathologist
First described by German pathologist Friedrich Daniel von Recklinghausen in 1861, RVT most commonly affects two subpopulations: newly born infants with blood clotting abnormalities or dehydration and adults with nephrotic syndrome.Nephrotic syndrome, [en.wikipedia.org]
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Gangrene
We describe the case of a 10-year-old boy who developed this very unusual complication following appendectomy for gangrenous appendicitis with peritonitis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Gastrointestinal
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Vomiting
A 31-year-old male with known atresia of the inferior vena cava who received a deceased donor renal transplant 7 years previously presented to hospital with severe graft site pain and a week of nausea, vomiting, and chills. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Warfarin can cause rashes, diarrhea, nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting, and hair loss. [en.wikipedia.org]
The onset is often sudden in children and some adults with fever, nausea, vomiting, flank pain, oliguria, gross hematuria, and proteinuria which progresses swiftly to renal failure especially in bilateral renal vein thrombosis or in patients with a single [symptoma.com]
A 61-year-old woman whose medical history was notable for hypertension and type 2 diabetes reported a two-day history of increasing dull pain in the right flank and nonbloody, bilious vomiting. [nejm.org]
Symptoms of renal failure and sometimes nausea, vomiting, flank pain, gross hematuria, decreased urine output, or systemic manifestations of venous thromboembolism may occur. Diagnosis is by CT, magnetic resonance angiography, or renal venography. [merckmanuals.com]
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Nausea
A 31-year-old male with known atresia of the inferior vena cava who received a deceased donor renal transplant 7 years previously presented to hospital with severe graft site pain and a week of nausea, vomiting, and chills. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
The onset is often sudden in children and some adults with fever, nausea, vomiting, flank pain, oliguria, gross hematuria, and proteinuria which progresses swiftly to renal failure especially in bilateral renal vein thrombosis or in patients with a single [symptoma.com]
Symptoms of renal failure and sometimes nausea, vomiting, flank pain, gross hematuria, decreased urine output, or systemic manifestations of venous thromboembolism may occur. Diagnosis is by CT, magnetic resonance angiography, or renal venography. [merckmanuals.com]
Cardiovascular
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Hypertension
A 61-year-old woman whose medical history was notable for hypertension and type 2 diabetes reported a two-day history of increasing dull pain in the right flank and nonbloody, bilious vomiting. [nejm.org]
[…] artery disease - legs, Peripheral intravenous line - infants, Portacaval shunting, Pulmonary angiography, Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula, Pulmonary embolus, Renal arteriography, Renal cell carcinoma, Renal vein thrombosis, Renal venogram, Renovascular hypertension [ufhealth.org]
Most patients (10 of 14) had generalized vague illness and nephrotic syndrome but 4 were initially seen with acute symptoms of flank pain, hematuria or hypertension. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Characterized by: Heavy proteinuria ( 3.5g in 24 hours) Hallmark Hypoalbuminemia ( serum albumin 300mg/dl) Edema /anasarca Hypertension Lipiduria Hypercoagulabil ity 3. Renal vein thrombosis (RVT) is common (around 40%) in patient with nephrotic [slideshare.net]
Risk factors for renal vascular disease include: age female gender atherosclerosis hypertension, particularly new onset of hypertension in an older person smoking high cholesterol diabetes A risk factor is anything that may increase a person’s chance [surgery.med.miami.edu]
Fetus
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Hydrops Fetalis
Rapid deterioration of fetal condition, abnormal fetal Doppler, appearance of hydrops fetalis, may accompany fetal venous thrombosis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Prenat Diagn 2007;27:603-607. van der Vange N, Bruinse HW: Hydrops fetalis associated with inferior vena cava thrombosis. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 1986;21:113-115. Rudolph N, Levin EJ: Hydrops fetalis with vena caval thrombosis in utero. [karger.com]
Urogenital
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Flank Pain
RVT should always be included in the differential diagnosis of flank pain and hematuria, and because RVT can induce acute renal injury. A 19-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because he complained of right flank pain and oliguria for 3 days. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
The first symptom is usually flank pain occurring posterior to the lower ribs and in the region of the hips. In patients with renal malignancies, anorexia and weight loss may be predominant while patients with nephrotic syndrome may have anasarca. [symptoma.com]
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Hematuria
A 38-year-old woman presented with flank pain and hematuria suggestive of renal calculus on ultrasound. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
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Bladder Distention
Here, we report a rare case of RVT that appears to have occurred as a consequence of obstructive uropathy causing massive bladder distention resulting in compression of the renal vein. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
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Enlargement of the Prostate
Imaging revealed bladder distension, enlargement of the prostate, bilateral hydronephrosis, and left renal vein thrombosis extending into the inferior vena cava. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Workup
Diagnosis in patients with RVT is difficult as the clinical presentation is often overshadowed by anasarca or weight loss and anemia due to the predisposing conditions like nephrotic syndrome and renal malignancies respectively. Routine laboratory tests like complete blood count, urinalysis, serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels may reveal anemia, oliguria/proteinuria, and elevated BUN/ creatinine levels due to renal dysfunction.
The diagnosis of RVT is based on radiological tests. Ultrasonography in the acute stage may reveal renal enlargement with hyperechogenicity [6] and is the first radiological investigation to be performed although it cannot confirm the diagnosis. Computed tomogram with angiography (CTA) is the gold standard investigation with almost 100% sensitivity and specificity [7] as it can detect the occluding thrombus with abnormal renal perfusion [8]. The radiologist can also deduce the presence of a thrombus on CTA indirectly due to signs of renal enlargement, renal vein dilatation, poor renal venous drainage on a nephrogram, delayed corticomedullary differentiation, and renal fascial thickening [7]. Instead of a CTA, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is preferred in patients with renal impairment as it can be performed without using nephrotoxic contrast [9]. However, it has a lower sensitivity and specificity as compared to CTA [10].
Microbiology
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Escherichia Coli in Blood Culture
Urine cultures were positive for Escherichia coli and blood cultures were negative. After 5 days of antibiotic therapy with cefuroxime, inflammatory parameters (CRP level and white blood cell count) remained highly elevated. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Other Pathologies
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Amyloid Plaque
Read More Full Text HTML Download PDF Figure 1: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by neuronal death, which is usually correlated with the appearance of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). (a) The Aβ pathway leading... [doi.org]
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Neurofibrillary Tangle
Read More Full Text HTML Download PDF Figure 1: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by neuronal death, which is usually correlated with the appearance of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). (a) The Aβ pathway leading... [doi.org]
Treatment
Treatment of renal vein thromboses has previously been limited to conventional anticoagulation. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Prognosis
In this report, we describe a fetus with unilateral RVT and summarize the literature regarding prenatal diagnostic criteria and postnatal prognosis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Prognosis Prognosis is determined by the effects on nephrotic syndrome, renal dysfunction or the complications resulting from thromboembolism. Prognosis of any underlying cause is worsened by the onset of acute renal vein thrombosis. [patient.info]
Clinical Investigation and Epidemiology Summary Background: Renal vein thrombosis (RVT) complicating the nephrotic syndrome is associated with a poor prognosis. [link.springer.com]
Etiology
Nephrotic syndrome preceded the hospital admission of the patient and was the etiological cause of renal vein thrombosis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Harrison, Milne, and Steiner (8) recognized 4 etiologic varieties of renal-vein thrombosis: [1] thrombosis of the inferior vena cava and renal veins secondary to extension of thrombi from pelvic or leg veins; [2] thrombotic occlusion of the inferior vena [annals.org]
There are numerous etiologies for bland thrombus, but it most commonly occurs in the hypercoagulable nephrotic syndrome. [radiopaedia.org]
Epidemiology
Epidemiology The overall prevalence is unknown, as renal vein thrombosis is probably underdiagnosed. it is rare in children and usually due to severe illness, eg asphyxia, severe infection, dehydration. [patient.info]
Clinical Investigation and Epidemiology Summary Background: Renal vein thrombosis (RVT) complicating the nephrotic syndrome is associated with a poor prognosis. [link.springer.com]
Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands Department of Hematology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, the Netherlands Search for more papers by this author First published: 15 January 2014 Cited by [doi.org]
[…] common non–catheter-related thromboembolism in the neonatal period May also be associated with nephrotic syndrome, hypercoagulable states, and oral contraceptive use May present with a clinical triad of flank mass, gross hematuria, and thrombocytopenia Epidemiology [unboundmedicine.com]
Pathophysiology
Moreover, diffusion-weighted MRI appears to provide important insights into the pathophysiology of delayed graft function and deserves further investigation. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Effective strategies to prevent and treat AD remain elusive despite major efforts to understand its basic biology and clinical pathophysiology. Significant investments in therapeutic ... [doi.org]
The pathophysiology of venous thrombosis has been reported to involve a combination of three interrelated factors: endothelial damage, stasis, and hypercoagulability. [bmcurol.biomedcentral.com]
Renal Vein Thrombosis Pathophysiology Blood flow to and away from the kidney is through the renal artery and renal vein respectively. The artery carries oxygen rich blood to the kidney. [healthhype.com]
Prevention
Fibrinolytic and heparin therapy may play a role in preventing chronic renal failure in neonates with bilateral RVT. However, the use of fibrinolytics early after any major surgery requires tremendous caution. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]
Treatment of the underlying disorder Drugs that prevent or dissolve blood clots Rarely, surgery The underlying disorder is treated. [merck.com]
References
- Mansi MK. Postpartum renal infarction secondary to spontaneous renal vein thrombosis. J Urol. 2001;165:893–894.
- Harris SL, Smith MP, Laurie A, Darlow BA. Neonatal renal vein thrombosis and prothrombotic risk. Acta Paediatr. 2010 Jul;99(7):1104-7.
- Bailey P, Sarfraz F, Ravanan R. Anti-GBM disease and renal vein thrombosis. BMJ Case Rep. 2011 Nov 15;
- Mouhsine A, Belkouch A, El Mehdi A et al. Renal vein thrombosis in the postpartum period: a case report. J.Med Case Rep. 2014; 8:462
- Harrison CV, Milne MD, Steiner RE. Clinical aspects of renal vein thrombosis. QJ Med. 1956;25:285–301.
- Ricci MA, Lloyd DA. Renal venous thrombosis in infants and children. Arch Surg. 1990;125:1195–1199. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.1990.01410210121019.
- Alvarez-Castells A, Sebastia CC, Quiroga GS. Computerized tomography angiography of renal vessels. Arch Esp Urol. 2001;54:603–615.
- Kawashima A, Sandler CM, Ernst RD, et al. CT evaluation of renovascular disease. Radiographics. 2000;20 (5):1321-40.
- Tempany CM, Morton RA, Marshall FF. MRI of the renal veins: assessment of nonneoplastic venous thrombosis. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 1992;16 (6): 929-34.
- Hodgson DJ, Jan W, Rankin S, et al. Magnetic resonance renal angiography and venography: an analysis of 111 consecutive scans before donor nephrectomy. BJU Int. 2006;97:584–586.