• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.15-20
• /
• 2005

Purpose : Nutcracker syndrome must be considered when hematuria or proteinuria occurs in a healthy child. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of nutcracker syndrome among children with asymptomatic hematuria or proteinuria, and to obtain the ratios of the peak velocity of the left renal vein between the aortomesenteric portion and the hilar portion in children with asymptomatic hematuna or protelnuria in which nutcracker syndrome was excluded and to observe whether the ratios are affected by sex, age or urinalysis findings. Methods : Using Doppler ultrasonography, we measured the flow velocity and obtained the peak velocity ratios of the left renal vein at the aortornesenteric portion and at the hilar Portion of the left kidney in children with asymptomatic hematuria or proteinuria who visited the Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Severance Hospital from May 2001 to March 2004. Results : Of 304 children with asymptomatic hematuna or proteinuria, 107 children(35.2%) were diagnosed with nutcracker syndrome. For 197 children with asymptomatic hematuria or proteinuria excluding nutcracker syndrome, the mean ratio of the peak velocity was 2.54 $\pm$0.73, which was not affected by sex, age or urinalysis findings. Conclusion : Nutcracker syndrome was the major cause of asymptomatic hematuria or proteinurla In children, comprising 35% of all cases. Doppler ultrasonography was helpful in the screening of nutcracker syndrome and prevention of its complications. For children with asymptomatic hematuria or proteinuria excluding nutcracker syndrome, the peak velocity ratio of the left renal vein did not differ from that of normal children and was not affected by sex, age or urinalysis findings. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2005;9:15-20)

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.240-245
• /
• 2010

Nutcracker syndrome refers to the compression of the left renal vein between the abdominal aorta and superior mesenteric artery which can lead to renal vein hypertension. Patients can present with hematuria, proteinuria, dysuria or abdominal pain. In diagnosing the nutcracker syndrome, measurement of the peak velocity ratio of aorto-mesenteric border versus renal hilum by Doppler sonography is useful. Currently, there are few reports about the genetic correlation in this syndrome. We report two cases of the nutcracker syndrome found in male siblings with hematuria.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.264-270
• /
• 2023

Backgrounds/Aims: Proximal splenorenal shunt (PSRS) is a commonly performed procedure to decompress portal hypertension, in patients with refractory variceal bleed, especially in non-cirrhotic portal hypertension (NCPH). If conventional methods are hindered by any technical or pathological factors, alternative surgical techniques may be required. This study analyzes the effectiveness of various unconventional shunt surgeries performed for NCPH. Methods: A retrospective analysis of NCPH patients who underwent unconventional shunt surgeries during the period July 2011 to June 2022 was conducted. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 12 months with doppler study of the shunt to assess shunt patency, and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to evaluate the regression of varices. Results: During the study period, 130 patients underwent shunt surgery; among these, 31 underwent unconventional shunts (splenoadrenal shunt [SAS], 12; interposition mesocaval shunt [iMCS], 8; interposition PSRS [iPSRS], 6; jejunal vein-cava shunt [JCS], 3; left gastroepiploic-renal shunt [LGERS], 2). The main indications for unconventional shunts were left renal vein aberration (SAS, 8/12), splenic vein narrowing (iMCS, 5/8), portalhypertensive vascular changes (iPSRS, 6/6), and portomesenteric thrombosis (JCS, 3/3). The median fall in portal pressure was more in SAS (12.1 mm Hg), and operative time more in JCS, 8.4 hours (range, 5-9 hours). During a median follow-up of 36 months (6-54 months), shunt thrombosis had been reported in all cases of LGERS, and less in SAS (3/12). Variceal regression rate was high in SAS, and least in LGERS. Hypersplenism had reversed in all patients, and 6/31 patients had a recurrent bleed. Conclusions: Unconventional shunt surgery is effective in patients unsuited for other shunts, especially PSRS, and it achieves the desired effects in a significant proportion of patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.35 no.10
• /
• pp.755-759
• /
• 2002

A 64-year-old man was admitted for gross hematuria. Preoperative study revealed right renal cell carcinoma with inferior vena cava(IVC) tumor thrombus. Right radical nephrectomy was performed, and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest(DHCA) with retrograde cerebral perfusion(RCP) was used for extraction of tumor thrombus in the IVC. The thrombus originated from the right kidney, which extended the orifice of the gonadal vein in the left renal vein laterally, the hepatic vein superiorly, and 3cm below the right renal vein inferiorly. The thrombus was removed completely without caval wall injury under DHCA with RCP, and the postoperative course was uneventful. He received immunotherapy with interferon, and followed up without any surgical problem.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.133-138
• /
• 2023

Nutcracker syndrome (NCS) is a disease caused by compression of the left renal vein between the superior mesenteric artery and the abdominal aorta. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy (IgAN) is characterized by the predominance of IgA deposits in the glomerular mesangial area. Hematuria and proteinuria can be present in both diseases, and some patients can be concurrently diagnosed with NCS and IgAN; however, a causal relationship between the two diseases has not yet been clarified. Here, we report two pediatric cases of NCS combined with IgAN. The first patient presenting with microscopic hematuria and proteinuria was diagnosed with NCS at the initial visit, and the second patient was later diagnosed with NCS when proteinuria worsened. Both patients were diagnosed with IgAN based on kidney biopsy findings and treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and immunosuppressants. A high index of suspicion and timely imaging or biopsy are essential for the proper management of NCS combined with glomerulopathy.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.303-306
• /
• 2008

Unknown age, spayed female mixed dog was presented with a severe lethargy. Radiography, ultrasonography, and blood screen test were performed to make a diagnosis. There were no specific radiographic findings. On the ultrasonography, small amount of ascites was found around gallbladder and hepatic vein was dilated approximately 6.1 mm. Blood screen test revealed a severe anemia. Result of heartworm ELISA kit was positive. At necropsy, parasites were in the left atrium, right ventricles, aorta, pulmonary artery, right renal artery.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.84-88
• /
• 2010

Posterior nutcracker phenomenon (PNP) was found to be the cause of significant proteinuria in a 10-year-old female. PNP was documented by Doppler ultrasonography and abdominal 3D CT as a cause of her proteinuria. Despite treatment with ACE inhibitor for several months, her persistent and progressive proteinuria lead us to perform a left renal biopsy, which revealed no significant finding except for focal effacement of foot processes. We speculate that nutcracker phenomenon can induce not only orthostatic proteinuria but also significant proteinuria by focal effacement of foot processes.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.138-144
• /
• 1998

Purpose : The use of cyclosporine and mitomycin in various immunologic or neoplastic disorders has been known to cause wide-ranged nephrotoxic effects including thrombotic microangiopathy. However, the mechanism of nephrotoxicity of these drugs has not been studied adequately, so that present experimental study has been undertaken to find out whether these drugs can cause direct damage to the kidney and to clarify the pathogenetic mechanism of nephrotoxic effect of these drugs. Materials and methods : Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-300 gm were used for experimental animals and unilateral renal perfusion technique, modified from the method described by Hoyer et al was used. Isolation of left kidney from systemic circulation was made by clamping aorta and left renal vein and a hole was punctured in the anterior wall of the left renal vein. Cyclosporine (2.5 mg in 4 ml solution) and mitomycin (1.6 mg in 4ml solution) were infused through left renal artery and normal saline was used in control rats. Forty-eight hours after infusion of the drugs, animals were sacrificed and left kidney removed and processed for histologic examination. Total ischemic time of left kidney was less than 15 minutes: Results : Cyclosporine-perfused group showed severe swelling of glomerular endothelial ceil along with swelling of glomerular epithelial cell and interstitial vascular endothelial cell. Mitomycin-perfused group also showed severe swelling of glomerular endothelial and epithelial cells. And in addition to these findings, they demonstrated platelets aggregation, swelling and degranulation of platelets and fibrin accumulation in some of the capillaries, indicating occurrance of thrombotic microangiopathy. Conclusion : present experiment indicates that cyclosporine and mitomycin can cause direct toxic injury to renal endothelial cell. And this direct toxic damage to endothelial cell seems to be an important initiating event for the development of thrombotic microangiopathy.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.423-426
• /
• 2023

Backgrounds/Aims: Patients who undergo pancreatic surgery with venous resection have high rates of morbidity/mortality. Also, they are high-risk for postoperative venous thromboembolism. Whether this group should be routinely anticoagulated is unknown. This study aimed to establish current anticoagulation practices. Methods: A survey (https://form.jotform.com/220242489107048) was sent out to pancreatic surgeons. Questions covered center volume, venous resection/reconstruction techniques and anticoagulation policies. Results: Sixty-five centers from 17 countries responded. Following a "side-bite" venous resection with a patch repair, 40% used an autologous vein patch, 27% used peritoneum, and 27% used a bovine patch. After formally resecting a segment of vein, 17% of centers used an interposition graft (IG). Left renal vein (41%) and polytetrafluoroethylene (73%) grafts were the most commonly used autologous and prosthetic IGs, respectively. Following a prosthetic IG, an autologous IG, and a "side-bite" resection, 59%, 28%, and 19% of centers provided therapeutic anticoagulation, respectively (66% used low molecular-weight heparin). The duration of therapy provided varied from inpatient stay only (14%) to six months (32%). Conclusions: Our global survey indicates that anticoagulation practices are highly variable. Centers do not agree on when to anticoagulate, how to anticoagulate, or the duration of therapy. A robust trial is required to provide clarity.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.181-191
• /
• 2013

Purpose : To evaluate the usefulness of in vivo magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for tracking intravenously injected superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO)-labeled human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in an acute renal failure (ARF) rat model. Materials and Methods: HUVECs were labeled with SPIO and poly-L-lysine (PLL) complex. Relaxation rates at 1.5-T MR, cell viability, and labeling stability were assessed. HUVECs were injected into the tail vein of ARF rats (labeled cells in 10 rats, unlabeled cells in 2 rats). Follow-up serial $T2^*$-weighted gradient-echo MR imaging was performed at 1, 3, 5 and 7 days after injection, and the MR findings were compared with histologic findings. Results: There was an average of $98.4{\pm}2.4%$ Prussian blue stain-positive cells after labeling with SPIOPLL complex. Relaxation rates ($R2^*$) of all cultured HUVECs at day 3 and 5 were not markedly decreased compared with that at day 1. The stability of SPIO in HUVECs was maintained during the proliferation of HUVECs in culture media. In the presence of left unilateral renal artery ischemia, $T2^*$-weighted MR imaging performed 1 day after the intravenous injection of labeled HUVECs revealed a significant signal intensity (SI) loss exclusively in the left renal outer medulla regions, but not in the right kidney. The MR imaging findings at days 3, 5 and 7 after intravenous injection of HUVECs showed a SI loss in the outer medulla regions of the ischemically injured kidney, but the SI progressively recovered with time and the right kidney did not have a significant change in SI in the same period. Upon histologic analysis, the SI loss on MR images was correspondent to the presence of Prussian blue stained cells, primarily in the renal outer medulla. Conclusion: MR imaging appears to be useful for in vivo monitoring of intravenously injected SPIO-labeled HUVECs in an ischemically injured rat kidney.