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Renal vein thrombosis is thrombotic occlusion of one or both main renal veins, resulting in acute renal failure or chronic kidney disease. Common causes include nephrotic syndrome, primary hypercoagulability disorders, malignant renal tumors, extrinsic compression, trauma, and rarely inflammatory bowel disease. 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. With treatment, prognosis is generally good. Treatment is anticoagulation, support of renal function, and treatment of the underlying disorder. Some patients benefit from thrombectomy or nephrectomy.
Etiology
Renal vein thrombosis usually results from local and systemic hypercoagulability due to nephrotic syndrome associated with membranous nephropathy or membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Overly aggressive diuresis or prolonged high-dose corticosteroid treatment may contribute to thrombosis of the renal vein in patients with these conditions (see Glomerular Disorders: Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis). Other causes include
Less common causes are related to reduced renal vein blood flow and include malignant renal tumors that extend into the renal veins (typically renal cell carcinoma), extrinsic compression of the renal vein or inferior vena cava (eg, by vascular abnormalities, tumor, retroperitoneal disease, ligation of the inferior vena cava, aortic aneurysm), oral contraceptive use, trauma, dehydration, and, rarely, thrombophlebitis migrans and cocaine abuse.
Symptoms and Signs
Usually, onset of renal dysfunction (see Acute Kidney Injury: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)) is insidious. However, onset may be acute, causing renal infarction with nausea, vomiting, flank pain, gross hematuria, and decreased urine output.
When the cause is a hypercoagulability disorder, signs of venous thromboembolic disorders (eg, deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism) may occur. When the cause is a renal cancer, its signs (eg, hematuria, weight loss) predominate.
Diagnosis
Renal vein thrombosis should be considered in patients with renal infarction or any unexplained deterioration in renal function, particularly in patients with the nephrotic syndrome or other risk factors. The traditional diagnostic test of choice and the gold standard is venography of the inferior vena cava; this test is diagnostic, but it may mobilize clots. Because of the risks of conventional venography, magnetic resonance venography and Doppler ultrasonography are being used increasingly. Magnetic resonance venography can be done if GFR > 30 mL/min. Doppler ultrasonography sometimes detects renal vein thrombosis but has high false-negative and false-positive rates. Notching of the ureter due to dilated collateral veins is a characteristic finding in some chronic cases. CT angiography provides good detail with high sensitivity and specificity and is fast but requires administration of a radiocontrast agent, which may be nephrotoxic. Serum electrolytes and urinalysis are done and confirm deterioration of renal function. Microscopic hematuria is often present. Proteinuria may be in the nephrotic range.
If no cause is apparent, testing for hypercoagulability disorders should be initiated (see Thrombotic Disorders). Renal biopsy is nonspecific but may detect a coexisting renal disorder.
Treatment
Death is rare and usually related to complications such as pulmonary embolism and those due to nephrotic syndrome or a malignant tumor.
The underlying disorder should be treated. Treatment options for renal vein thrombosis include anticoagulation with heparin, thrombolysis, and catheter-directed or surgical thrombectomy. Long-term anticoagulation with low molecular weight heparin or oral warfarin should be started immediately if no invasive intervention is planned. Anticoagulation minimizes risk of new thrombi, promotes recanalization of vessels with existing clots, and improves renal function. Anticoagulation should be continued for at least 6 to 12 mo and, if a hypercoagulability disorder (eg, persistent nephrotic syndrome) is present, indefinitely.
Use of a percutaneous catheter for thrombectomy or thrombolysis is a promising new technique that has a high success rate. Surgical thrombectomy is rarely used but may help if anticoagulation is ineffective or contraindicated. Inferior vena cava filters may also be used in these cases to help prevent pulmonary emboli.
Nephrectomy is done only if infarction is total (in certain cases) or if the underlying disorder warrants it.
Last full review/revision April 2008 by Seyed-Ali Sadjadi, MD
Content last modified February 2012
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