Neonatal renal venous thrombosis--a case report describing serial sonographic changes

Adrenal Hemorrhage in Neonates: Unusual Presentation

Adrenal hemorrhage (AH) is a relatively uncommon condition in newborns. It may be asymptomatic or may present with flank abdominal mass, anemia, jaundice, or rarely as scrotal bruising or hematoma. We report two cases of AH in neonates; the first presented with scrotal hematoma and the second with adrenal mass associated with hypertension and oliguria, primarily secondary to coincidental renal vein thrombosis. Diagnosis was confirmed by abdominal ultrasound. Patients were managed conservatively with clinical observation and by following hemoglobin and bilirubin levels closely. Both infants were discharged without surgical intervention after several days in the hospital. Clinicians should consider AH when a newborn presents with scrotal bruising or hematoma, unexplained anemia, unexplained jaundice, or flank abdominal mass. Timely ultrasonographic evaluation of both adrenal glands and testes in neonates with scrotal hematoma may spare infants from unnecessary surgical intervention because scrotal hematoma often raises the suspicion of testicular torsion.

Neonatal renal vein thrombosis

Neonatal renal vein thrombosis (RVT) continues to pose significant challenges for pediatric hematologists and nephrologists. The precise mechanism for the onset and propagation of renal thrombosis within the neonatal population is unclear, but there is suggestion that acquired and/or inherited thrombophilia traits may increase the risk for renal thromboembolic disease during the newborn period. This review summarizes the most recent studies of neonatal RVT, examining its most common features, the prevalence of acquired and inherited prothrombotic risk factors among these patients, and evaluates their short and long term renal and thrombotic outcomes as they may relate to these risk factors. Although there is some consensus regarding the management of neonatal RVT, the most recent antithrombotic therapy guidelines for the management of childhood thrombosis do not provide a risk-based algorithm for the acute management of RVT among newborns with hereditary prothrombotic disorders. Whereas neonatal RVT is not a condition associated with a high mortality rate, it is associated with significant morbidity due to renal impairment. Recent evidence to evaluate the effects of heparin-based anticoagulation and thrombolytic therapy on the long term renal function of these patients has yielded conflicting results. Long term cohort studies and randomized trials may be helpful to clarify the impact of acute versus prolonged antithrombotic therapy for reducing the morbidity that is associated with neonatal RVT.

[Neonatal renal vein thrombosis: early diagnosis using Doppler ultrasonography and long-term sequelae]

OBJECTIVE

To describe the physiopathological mechanisms in perinatal renal vein thrombosis and the associated risk factors, with emphasis on the clinical and radiological characteristics and on the long-term evolution.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We retrospectively studied a total of 11 cases of neonatal renal vein thrombosis; the mean age of patients at diagnosis was 3 days. We analyzed the type of presentation, the clinical manifestations, and the findings at B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography, as well as the treatment undertaken and the long-term sequelae.

RESULTS

At the time of diagnosis, the triad of a palpable mass, unequivocal hematuria, and thrombocytopenia was present in only 63.63% of patients. A prothrombotic risk factor was identified in the newborn or mother in 45.45% of cases. At ultrasonographic examination, all newborns had enlarged kidneys and in all cases it was impossible to differentiate between the renal cortex and the renal medulla. In 4 of the 11 cases, hyperechogenic intramedullary linear images characteristic of the initial stage of thrombosis were identified. Functional follow-up studies using DMSA (dimercaptosuccinic acid) and MAG-3 (mercaptoacetyltriglycine acid) revealed morphological abnormalities in all patients; 7 patients had a nonfunctioning kidney.

CONCLUSIONS

Visualizing echogenic bands within the medulla should alert radiologists to the initial phase of renal vein thrombosis and enable the appropriate treatment to be administered. With the exception of cases discovered before birth, renal vein thrombosis has a poor prognosis, with atrophy and renal failure in the long term.

Neonatal renal vein thrombosis: review of the English-language literature between 1992 and 2006

Renal vein thrombosis is a complication that occurs in neonates with various underlying risk factors. It carries a grave prognosis for affected kidneys. Anticoagulant and fibrinolytic therapies have been promoted in the past with anecdotal success in some circumstances. However, prospective controlled trials are still lacking, and to date there have been no evidence-based guidelines available for the treatment of neonates with renal vein thrombosis. We retrospectively reviewed all the available medical literature pertaining to renal vein thrombosis published in English during the past 15 years. A total of 271 patients from 13 case series were identified by using the terms "renal vein thrombosis" and "neonates" via PubMed and Cochrane Library searches. Data then were extracted from each of the studies for analysis. During the past 15 years, a male predominance (67.2%) in neonatal renal vein thrombosis has been reported. More than 70% of patients had unilateral renal vein thrombosis, which was more prevalent on the left side (63.6%). The thrombus involved the inferior vena cava and was associated with adrenal hemorrhage in 43.7% and 14.8% of neonates, respectively. Forty percent of the patients were treated conservatively with supportive care alone. Among those patients who received anticoagulation therapy, unfractionated heparin and low molecular weight heparin were used alone in 21.6% and 20.7% of the patients, respectively. Fibrinolytic treatment alone was used in 11.2% of the patients. Only a minority of patients were treated with antithrombin (1.7%), warfarin alone, (0.9%) or underwent surgical intervention (0.3%). The majority (70.6%) of the involved kidneys became atrophic. A total of 9 neonates died with non-renal vein thrombosis-related conditions during the study period. Evidence-based recommendations on treatment cannot be made at the present time. Cooperative prospective studies that involve multiple centers are needed to elucidate the optimal treatment for neonatal renal vein thrombosis.

Acute renal failure in infants, children and adults

Acute renal failure (ARF) occurs in many critically ill patients regardless of age. A combination of events often seen in critical care settings, including shock, sepsis, hypoxia, and the use of potentially nephrotoxic medications, combine to make ARF an ongoing and important management issue in critical care medicine. Since the events leading to the development of ARF differ in infants, children, adults, and the elderly, the pathophysiology, clinical features, and treatment modalities do indeed have remarkable similarities among the different age groups.