Chronic renal vein thrombosis in a renal allograft

Abstract

Acute renal vein thrombosis in a renal allograft is uncommon and usually occurs in the post-transplant period. Chronic renal vein thrombosis can occur insidiously many years after transplant without significant deterioration in renal allograft function or symptoms.

High Venous Pressure in the Main Renal Vein Causing Development of Peritransplant Venous Collaterals in Renal Transplant Patients

“…In the literature, renal venous hypertension causing collateral vessels has been described in the setting of “nutcracker syndrome” 16 , 17 due to compression of the left renal vein between the aorta and overlying superior mesenteric artery. To our knowledge, the development of venous collaterals as venous drainage for the renal allograft has been described in only 1 case report, 13 secondary to chronic main renal vein thrombosis. We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 3 patients with renal transplants and peritransplant venous collaterals using sonography since 1993.…”

“…Chronic or partial renal vein thrombosis is rare and generally less severe than acute renal vein thrombosis in renal transplants 13 . The native kidney has a potentially extensive venous collateral bed, all of which is disrupted with renal transplantation.…”