Kidney Res Clin Pract.  2012 Sep;31(3):170-176.

Clinical characteristics of acute renal failure with severe loin pain and patchy renal vasoconstriction

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. jshan@snu.ac.kr
  • 2Epithelial Systems Biology Laboratory, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States.
  • 3Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, Korea.
  • 4Department of Radiology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Acute renal failure (ARF) with severe loin pain and patchy renal vasoconstriction (PRV) is a syndrome presenting with sudden loin pain after anaerobic exercise. We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and the efficacy of diagnostic imaging studies of patients with this syndrome.
METHODS
We retrospectively selected 17 patients with ARF accompanied by loin or abdominal pain who showed multiple patchy wedge-shaped delayed contrast enhancements on a computerized tomography scan. Information about the clinical characteristics, including the nature of pain and combined symptoms, suspected causes, such as exercise, drug or alcohol intake, and renal hypouricemia, and the results of laboratory and imaging tests were gathered.
RESULTS
The mean age of patients with episodes of ARF accompanied by loin pain was 23.0+/-6.5 (range 16-35) years old. Pain was mainly located in the loin (70.6%) or abdominal area (76.5%) and continued for approximately 3.5+/-4.0 days. Exercise was suspected as a primary cause of disease in 12 (70.6%) patients. Maximal serum creatinine was 5.42+/-3.16 (1.4-12.1) mg/dL 3.1+/-1.8 (1-7) days after the onset of pain. The peak level of serum uric acid was 9.41+/-2.91 (6.0-15.8) mg/dL. All of the patients recovered to near-normal renal function, and one patient showed hypouricemia after recovery.
CONCLUSION
ARF with severe loin pain and PRV can present with loin or abdominal pain, even without a history of anaerobic exercise. Careful history taking and appropriate imaging studies are critical in the diagnosis and management of this syndrome.

Keyword

Acute kidney injury; Exercise; Vasoconstriction; Renal hypouricemia

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Acute Kidney Injury
Creatinine
Diagnostic Imaging
Humans
Renal Tubular Transport, Inborn Errors
Retrospective Studies
Uric Acid
Urinary Calculi
Vasoconstriction
Creatinine
Renal Tubular Transport, Inborn Errors
Uric Acid
Urinary Calculi
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