Arterial Thrombosis in Nephrotic Syndrome

Abstract

Hypercoagulability is a well-known phenomenon in patients with nephritic syndrome. It involves the venous system in most patients where arterial thrombosis is relatively rare. Only 47 cases of nephritic syndrome complicated with arterial thrombosis have been reported in the literature from 1948 through 1993. Both the mortality and morbidity rates are high. Multiple factors have been implicated in patients with thromboembolism in nephritic syndrome. We present a patient with spontaneous femoral artery thrombosis that recurred after successful embolectomy and anticoagulant therapy. Subsequent embolectomy followed by fresh frozen plasma (FFP) transfusions prevented further thromboembolism. We concluded that the management of arterial thrombosis in patients with nephritic syndrome requires aggressive replenishment of antithrombin Ⅲ with FFP and adequate heparinization in addition to surgical management.