Renal vein thrombosis

Renal vein thrombosis
Other namesBlood clot in the renal vein[1]
The anterior surfaces of the kidneys, showing the areas of contact of neighboring viscera.
SpecialtyNephrology Edit this on Wikidata

Renal vein thrombosis (RVT) is the formation of a clot in the vein that drains blood from the kidneys, ultimately leading to a reduction in the drainage of one or both kidneys and the possible migration of the clot to other parts of the body.[1] 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.[2]

Nephrotic syndrome, a kidney disorder, causes excessive loss of protein in the urine, low levels of albumin in the blood, a high level of cholesterol in the blood and swelling, triggering a hypercoagulable state and increasing chances of clot formation. Other less common causes include hypercoagulable state, cancer, kidney transplantation, Behcet syndrome, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome or blunt trauma to the back or abdomen.[3]

Treatment of RVT mainly focuses on preventing further blood clots in the kidneys and maintaining stable kidney function. The use of anticoagulants has become the standard treatment in treating this abnormality.[2] Membranous glomerulonephritis, the most common cause for nephrotic syndrome in adults, peaks in people ages 40–60 years old and it is twice as likely to occur in men than in women. Since nephrotic syndrome is the most common cause of RVT, people over 40 years old and men are most at risk to develop a renal vein thrombosis.[3]

  1. ^ a b "Renal vein thrombosis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia". medlineplus.gov. Retrieved 27 May 2019.
  2. ^ a b Wessels, Hunter; McAninch, Jack W., eds. (2005). Handbook of Urological Emergencies: A Practical Guide. Totowa, N.J.: Humana Press. pp. 171–180. ISBN 978-1-58829-256-8.
  3. ^ a b Laskowski, Igor. "Renal Vein Thrombosis". Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2014.