Idiopathic Renal Infarction Mimicking Appendicitis. (22nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Di Serafino, Marco; Severino, Rosa; Gullotto, Chiara; Lisanti, Francesco; Scarano, Enrico
• Other Names: Exadaktylos Aristomenis K. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Case reports in emergency medicine. Volume 2017(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-01-22
• Subjects: Emergency medicine -- Periodicals; Emergency Medicine; Emergency medicine; Periodicals; Periodicals; Case Reports; Fulltext; Internet Resources; Periodicals; 616.025
• DOI: 10.1155/2017/8087315
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-648X

Abstract

Abstract : Renal infarction is a rare cause of referral to the emergency department, with very low estimated incidence (0.004%–0.007%). Usually, it manifests in patients aged 60–70 with risk factors for thromboembolism, mostly related to heart disease, atrial fibrillation in particular. We report a case of idiopathic segmental renal infarction in a 38-year-old patient, presenting with acute abdominal pain with no previous known history or risk factors for thromboembolic diseases. Because of its aspecific clinical presentation, this condition can mimic more frequent pathologies including pyelonephritis, nephrolithiasis, or as in our case appendicitis. Here we highlight the extremely ambiguous presentation of renal infarct and the importance for clinicians to be aware of this condition, particularly in patients without clear risk factors, as it usually has a good prognosis after appropriate anticoagulant therapy.