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Acute renal infarction secondary to calcific embolus from mitral annular calcification

Dinesh Bande1, Suhny Abbara, Sanjeeva P Kalva

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND, USA.

Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology
|July 28, 2010
PubMed

Insights

A 62-year-old man experienced groin pain due to a kidney clot. This calcific embolus originated from mitral annular calcification, highlighting a rare cause of renal infarction.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Nephrology
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is a common finding in older adults, often associated with cardiovascular disease.
  • Embolic events are a known complication of cardiac conditions, but renal infarction from MAC is rare.

Observation:

  • A 62-year-old male presented with acute right groin pain.
  • Diagnostic imaging, including CT and angiography, revealed a renal infarct.
  • The infarct was attributed to a calcific embolus originating from the mitral annulus.

Findings:

  • The case demonstrates a direct link between mitral annular calcification and renal infarction.
  • Calcific emboli from the mitral valve can travel to the renal arteries, causing ischemic injury.
  • CT and angiography are crucial for diagnosing the source and extent of renal infarction.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the importance of considering cardiac sources for embolic events, even in the absence of typical cardiac symptoms.
  • Clinicians should be aware of mitral annular calcification as a potential source of systemic emboli, including renal infarction.
  • Further research may elucidate the prevalence and risk factors associated with non-cardiac embolic events from mitral annular calcification.

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