RESUMO
Late-onset retroperitoneal hemorrhage from renal intraparenchymal pseudoaneurysm (RIP) following a kidney biopsy is an extremely rare complication but should not be ignored, especially in high-risk populations. Here, we introduce a 32-year-old Caucasian female who presented with sudden-onset left-sided flank pain. She had recently been diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and had undergone a computed tomography (CT)-guided core needle biopsy of the left kidney 9 days earlier. The results were consistent with lupus nephritis class III or IV. Initial vitals were within normal limits. She appeared pale and her left flank was tender to palpation without discoloration or abdominal distention. Laboratory investigations showed a hemoglobin level of 7.1 g/dL. The CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis revealed a large hyperdense left perinephric collection consistent with perinephric hematoma with a moderate amount of retroperitoneal stranding most prominent on the left side extending across the midline to the right side. Contrast extravasation was suspected in the lower pole of the left kidney consistent with active bleeding site. Emergent renal angiography revealed a 2 × 1 cm intraparenchymal pseudoaneurysm in the lower pole of the left kidney along with a few small microaneurysms. Coil embolization of the pseudoaneurysm was successfully performed without any complications. In conclusion, SLE or lupus nephritis in this patient may be the predisposing factors for microaneurysm and RIP formations. RIP is an unusual complication after percutaneous kidney biopsy that carries a significant mortality rate if ruptured, causing retroperitoneal hemorrhage. Clinicians should be vigilant when encountering high-risk patients with persistent hematuria, flank pain, or abdominal pain within four weeks after a kidney biopsy.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in March 2020 in the United States. It has been associated with high mortality and morbidity all over the world. COVID-19 can cause a significant inflammatory response leading to coagulopathy and this hypercoagulable state has been associated with worse clinical outcomes in these patients. The published data regarding the presence of lupus anticoagulant in critically ill COVID-19-positive patients is limited and indicates varying conclusions so far. CASE REPORT Here, we present a case of a 31-year-old man who was admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 pneumonia, complicated with superadded bacterial empyema and required video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery with decortication. This patient also had prolonged prothrombin time on preoperative labs, which was not corrected with mixing study. Further workup detected positive lupus anticoagulant and anti-cardiolipin IgM along with alteration in other coagulation factor levels. The patient was treated with fresh frozen plasma and vitamin K before surgical intervention. He had an uneventful surgical course. He received prophylactic-dose low molecular weight heparin for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis and did not experience any thrombotic events while hospitalized. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 infection creates a prothrombotic state in affected patients. The formation of micro-thrombotic emboli results in significantly increased mortality and morbidity. Routine anticoagulation with low molecular weight heparin can prevent thrombotic events and thus can improve patient outcomes. In patients with elevated prothrombin time, lupus anticoagulant/anti-cardiolipin antibody-positivity should be suspected, and anticoagulation prophylaxis should be continued perioperatively for better outcomes.
