Prenatal Diagnosis of Renal Vein Thrombosis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Background: Renal vein thrombosis (RVT) is a well-characterized condition among neonates; however, this complication is rarely diagnosed prenatally.

Methods: In this report, we describe a fetus with unilateral RVT and summarize the literature regarding prenatal diagnostic criteria and postnatal prognosis. We searched the English, French and Spanish literature (MEDLINE, PubMed and EMBASE) for cases with prenatal diagnosis of RVT.

Results: Including our case, a total of 23 fetuses with fetal RVT were reviewed in the present study. All cases were diagnosed in the third trimester, and the survival rate among these cases was 63%. Enlargement of the kidney was the most commonly associated initial ultrasound finding. The only ultrasound finding significantly associated with mortality was the presence of bilateral RVT.

Discussion: The etiology of fetal RVT is still unclear. Considering the large number of cases with RVT that manifest in the first days of life, prenatal diagnosis of this condition has relevance.