An Unusual Case of Isolated Right Ventricular Thrombus and Bilateral Extensive Pulmonary Thromboembolism in an Adult with Nephrotic Syndrome Occurring Five Years after the Diagnosis: A Case Report

Abstract

It is an established fact that nephrotic syndrome is associated with a heightened risk of thromboembolic complications including deep vein thrombosis (DVT), renal vein thrombosis (RVT) and pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). Intra-cardiac thrombi are not uncommon but predominantly involve left atrium (LA), right atrium (RA) and left ventricle (LV). However, Isolated right ventricular (RV) thrombus in an adult with nephrotic syndrome was very rarely reported. Common causes of intra-cardiac thrombi include LV dysfunction, atrial fibrillation (AF), mitral stenosis (MS), nephrotic syndrome, cardiac prosthetic valves, indwelling central venous catheters, pacing leads, anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome, hyperhomocysteinemia, infection with COVID-19 virus, Behcet’s disease and congenital thrombophilia. Above conditions can cause intra-arterial, intravenous, as well as, intra-cardiac thrombi. Patients with nephrotic syndrome especially due to membranous glomerulonephritis can develop a hypercoagulable state in greater than 25% of adult patients. The risk of thrombosis was noted to be highest in the first three to six months after diagnosis. The exact incidence and prevalence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) are unknown in nephrotic syndrome. We are reporting a rare case of isolated RV thrombus presenting as acute PTE five years after initial diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome due to membranous glomerulonephritis which responded to thrombolytic therapy. There were only three case reports of isolated RV thrombus in an adult with nephrotic syndrome published so far.