Renal colic as the first symptom of acute renal vein thrombosis, resulting in the diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome

Abstract

Renal vein thrombosis is a well-known complication of nephrotic syndrome, but rarely its first or only symptom. We describe a 26-year-old patient presenting with flank pain suggestive of renal colic. A computed tomography scan showed acute renal vein thrombosis, the only sign of a later diagnosed nephrotic syndrome. This is a rare presentation of a renal vein thrombosis caused by nephrotic syndrome, and easily misdiagnosed as renal calculi especially in young and otherwise asymptomatic patients.