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Case Reports
. 2012 Feb 10:2012:bcr0620114331.
doi: 10.1136/bcr.06.2011.4331.

Improvement in refractory heart failure by nephrectomy for renal tumour

Adeel Shahzad  1 , Christopher Powell, Robert Etherington, John Somauroo
Affiliations
Case Reports

Improvement in refractory heart failure by nephrectomy for renal tumour

Adeel Shahzad et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

Hypoalbuminaemia and anaemia are conditions known to aggravate congestive cardiac failure (CCF). Renal cell carcinoma is often associated with hypoalbuminaemia and anaemia. The authors report an interesting case of a patient with severe refractory CCF who incidentally was found to have a massive renal cell tumour. Clinically, his heart failure was being aggravated by hypoalbuminaemia and anaemia. Despite aggressive diuretic therapy and multiple blood and albumin transfusions, there was no clinical improvement. He subsequently underwent nephrectomy of the renal tumour, with subsequent dramatic clinical improvement in his heart failure. His symptoms resolved completely and he did not require any further diuretic therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CT abdomen confirmed the presence of massive left renal tumour.
Figure 2
Figure 2
3D reconstruction of CT images showing the size of left renal tumour.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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