Immunopathology of the nephrotic syndrome associated with renal vein thrombosis. Report of two cases and brief review of the literature

Nephrotic syndrome associated with renal vein thrombosis--a report of 3 cases

The coexistence of nephrotic syndrome and renal vein thrombosis has been of medical interest since Rayer’s description in 1840. Renal vein thrombosis has been underdiagnosed because of its variable clinical and radiological findings but it becomes a more frequently recognizable clinical entity since diagnosis can be easily established by modern angiographic techniques. Generally it has been believed that renal vein thrombosis may cause nephrotic syndrome. But recent articles strongly suggest that renal vein thrombosis is a complication of the nephrotic syndrome rather than a cause. We report three cases of nephrotic syndrome associated with renal vein thrombosis.

Mild unilateral proteinuria and renal vein thrombosis associated with oral contraceptive usage

A previously healthy 15-yr-old female taking oral contraceptives presented with acute, isolated, unilateral renal vein thrombosis as documented by arteriography and venography. Mild proteinuria (760 mg/24 hr) was localized solely to the thrombosed kidney by selective ureteral collections. The case illustrates an oral contraceptive associated renal vein thrombosis in the absence of either inferior vena cava thrombosis, bilateral proteinuria, or the nephrotic syndrome. This patient's proteinuria and clinical course suggest that nephrotic syndrome is a cause of renal vein thrombosis rather than an effect of renal vein thrombosis. The finding of localized, unilateral proteinuria is discussed.

The clinical spectrum of renal vein thrombosis: acute and chronic

The present study is a prospective evaluation of 151 patients with the nephrotic syndrome in regard to the incidence of renal vein thrombosis, modes of clinical presentation, pathogenetic course and response to anticoagulant therapy. Of the 151 nephrotic patients studied, 33 had renal vein thrombosis and membranous nephropathy was present in 20. There were two modes of clinical presentation: (1) a sudden renal vein thrombosis was observed in the young patient with acute flank pain, marked costovertebral angle tenderness and macroscopic hematuria; a characteristic intravenous pyelogram, renal histologic changes and anticoagulant therapy were followed by marked improvement in renal function; (2) long-term renal vein thrombosis was observed in the older patients; they were asymptomatic and intravenous pyelograms disclosed no abnormalities; there were no suggestive renal histologic findings; the incidence of thromboembolic phenomena other than renal vein thrombosis was high, and there was mild progressive deterioration of renal function which was not altered by anticoagulant drugs; treated nephrotic patients with chronic renal vein thrombosis did not experience a new episode of thromboembolism whereas untreated nephrotic patients without renal vein thrombosis did. Finally, the sequence of nephrotic syndrome leading to renal vein thrombosis was clearly established showing the pathogenetic role of the nephrotic syndrome in renal vein thrombosis. Possible mechanisms in the pathogenesis of renal vein thrombosis are also discussed.

Selective renal venography in patients with primary renal disease and the nephrotic syndrome

Fifteen patients with primary renal disease and renal vein thrombosis who presented with the nephrotic syndrome were investigated venographically. In 46% of the patients the cavogram was normal. Selective renal venography is necessary in such patients because the course of patients with renal vein thrombosis and membranous glomerulonephritis is identical to that of patients with membranous glomerulonephritis alone. Eighty per cent of our patients had membranous glomerulonephritis; renal vein thrombosis is now thought to be secondary to this disease.

Renal vein thrombosis

Diagnosis of renal vein thrombosis, a disease of subtle or dramatic onset, depends largely on clinical suspicion confirmed by renal venography. The principles of management are changing as diagnostic advances resolve the "chicken-or-egg" quandary over the causal relationship between renal vein thrombosis and the nephrotic syndrome.

Chronic renal vein thrombosis

Twenty-eight patients with demonstrated chronic renal vein thrombosis were studied. In seven, only small venous channels were involved; in 21, both small and large veins were thrombosed. A constellation of findings occurred with such frequency in these patients that we believe it virtually diagnostic of renal venous obstruction. These findings include the nephrotic syndrome, great variability in proteinuria and glomerular filtration rate, pulmonary embolization, sterile pyuria, hematuria, hyperchloremic acidosis, decreased renal tubular threshold for glucose and increased fibrin degradation products. These findings are an indication for definitive angiographic and biopsy procedures. Prolonged anticoagulant therapy was generally very effective.

Bilateral renal vein and inferior vena cava thrombosis with nephrotic syndrome treated by thrombectomy: case report with 3-year followup

A previously healthy 19-year-old woman taking anovulatory medication presented with symptoms of the nephrotic syndrome and lupus erythematosus. Diagnosis of inferior vena cava and bilateral renal vein thrombosis was made angiographically. The patient was treated successfully by thrombectomy and anticoagulation, and remains well 3 years later. Laboratory data indicate normal renal function and only mild proteinuria. This is the longest followup of a patient with this entity reported in the literature.

Unilateral renal vein thrombosis and nephrotic syndrome. Report of a case with protein selectivity and antithrombin III clearance studies

A case of the nephrotic syndrome with unilateral renal vein thrombosis is reported. The patient, an 18 year old man, presented with a six month history of edema and the recent development of a left-sided varicocele. An enlarged left kidney and a thrombus in the left renal vein were demonstrated roentgenographically. A biopsy specimen of the right kidney was interpreted as membranous glomerulonephritis. Selective renal function studies showed nearly identical creatinine excretion, and similar total protein excretion and protein selectivity from each kidney. Thus, the thrombus in the left renal vein did not influence glomerular filtration rate or quantitative or qualitative protein excretion. A high urinary output and a decreased serum level of antithrombin III were measured. These findings suggest a mechanism to explain the increased thrombotic tendency seen in this and other patients with the nephrotic syndrome.