Pitfalls in anticoagulant-related nephropathy

Clin Nephrol. 2023 Dec;100(6):284-289. doi: 10.5414/CN111156.

Abstract

Anticoagulant-related nephropathy (ARN) is a rare but important disease and often misdiagnosed. The hallmark of the diagnosis is acute kidney injury (AKI) superimposed on preexisting kidney disease due to anticoagulation-induced glomerular hemorrhage with histologic features of widespread tubular obstruction by red blood cells and red cell casts. As ARN is a diagnosis of exclusion only proven by renal biopsy, the diagnosis is often unlikely to be confirmed histologically because of fear of biopsy-related bleeding during anticoagulant therapy. Given the large differential diagnosis in AKI, diagnosing ARN remains a challenge for clinicians. A case report and the pitfalls related to diagnosis and management will be discussed in this paper.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury* / chemically induced
  • Acute Kidney Injury* / diagnosis
  • Acute Kidney Injury* / therapy
  • Anticoagulants* / adverse effects
  • Hemorrhage / chemically induced
  • Hemorrhage / diagnosis
  • Hemorrhage / therapy
  • Humans
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Kidney Glomerulus / pathology

Substances

  • Anticoagulants