Renal allograft venous thrombosis is salvageable

Renal vein thrombosis (RVT) is an uncommon but serious complication. It usually occurs early after surgery. While compression of the renal vein is the most common cause, early rejection and hemostatic defects are other known causes. The symptoms are nonspecific and diagnosis is often delayed. Ultrasonography and renal isotope scan findings may resemble acute rejection or acute tubular necrosis.

We retrospectively reviewed the records of 684 recipients who were transplated between November 1993 and May 2006. The diagnosis of RVT was suspected by an unexplained drop in urine output, rise in serum creatinine, or hematuria, and confirmed by Doppler ultrasound and isotope scanning. Urgent exploration was performed in all suspected cases.

Seven incidences of biopsy-proven RVT were encountered, including 3 associated with hematoma and 1 with rejection. Four grafts were from cadaveric donors. Three grafts were salvaged.

The incidence of RVT in the present series was 1%. All cases developed in the first 2 weeks after transplantation. It was more common in adults, in female recipients, and in cadaveric grafts. Early diagnosis and intervention were the keys to salvage.