Successful Renal Transplantation in a Child With Thrombosis of the Inferior Vena Cava and Both Iliac Veins

Abstract

An 8-year-old girl who was born premature in the 24th gestational week suffered a septic venous thrombosis due to an indwelling central line during the early perinatal period. As a result the inferior vena cava including the intrahepatic segment and both iliac veins was obliterated. The right kidney was primarily dysplastic, and the left kidney developed a partial infarction. Renal function was compensated until the age of 6 years. Magnetic resonance angiography at that time showed a collateral system via the azygos vein. The venous pressure and its variation with breathing as measured invasively showed normal values. During pretransplant initiation of immunosuppressive therapy, the child developed cerebral convulsions after the third dose of cyclosporine. Therefore we utilized a regimen of rapamycin, mycophenolate mofetil, and steroids. The transplantation was performed using a living donor graft from the child’s mother. The relatively long vein from the left kidney was used for anastomosis with a large presacral collateral vein. Twelve months after transplantation the kidney function is stable with a serum creatinine of 0.5 mg/dL. The recipient thrombosis of the caval and iliac veins is not a principal contraindication for successful renal transplantation. MR angiography and invasive pressure measurements facilitated evaluation of the collateral venous system. The living donation setting allowed the initiation of an immunosuppressive regimen that was tailored to the concomitant diseases of the child.