Renal vein thrombosis - Treatment

Alternative Names

Clot in the renal vein; Occlusion - renal vein

Treatment:

The treatment is focused on preventing new clot formations and reducing the risk of the clot traveling to other locations in the body (embolization).

You may get medications that prevent blood clotting (anticoagulants) to stop new clots from forming. Your doctor may recommend bedrest or limited activity for a brief period.

If severe acute renal failure develops, you may need dialysis, but it should be temporary.

Expectations (prognosis):

Renal vein thrombosis usually gets better over time without permanently injuring the kidneys.

Complications:

Acute renal failure (especially if thrombosis occurs in a dehydrated child)
Blood clot moves to the lungs (pulmonary embolism)
Formation of new blood clots

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of renal vein thrombosis.

If you have experienced renal vein thrombosis, call your health care provider if you develop decreased urine output, difficulty breathing, or other new symptoms.

Kidney anatomy

Kidney - blood and urine flow

Reviewed last on: 6/8/2011
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and Herbert Y Lin, MD, PhD, Nephrologist, Massachusetts General Hospital; Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

DuBose TD Jr, Santos RM. Vascular disorders of the kidney. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 126.

Kanso AA, Hassan NMA, Badr KF. Microvascular and macrovascular diseases of the kidney. In: Brenner BM, ed. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 32.

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