Renal infarct (kidney damage from an area of blocked blood flow)
About Renal infarct (kidney damage from an area of blocked blood flow)
A blockage of blood flow to an area of the kidney causing death of tissue in a small section of a kidney. Usually, a renal infarct happens when a blood clot (embolus) that has formed in the heart or on a heart valve floats through the circulation into the kidney. This blood clot then blocks flow to part of the kidney. The disorder is most commonly seen in patients with an infected heart valve (endocarditis) or heart failure. More rarely it is associated with: inflammation of the artery (vasculitis), trauma, cancer, or after surgery. The most common symptoms are back pain and bloody urine (hematuria).Symptoms
Sudden onset of back pain, sudden onset of flank pain, bloody urine (hematuria).Tests & Diagnostics
A history and physical exam will be performed. The problem is usually seen on a CT scan. Blood tests to check kidney function and to identify blood clotting abnormalities will probably be done. An echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) is used to view heart valves, where a clot can originally form.Common tests: Complete blood count (CBC), Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), CT Scan, EKG, MRI, Urinalysis (UA), Ultrasound.
Conventional treatment summary
Most of the time a renal infarct is treated with pain medicines and the clot is not removed. However, the source of the clot needs to be found and treatment must be given to prevent recurrence. If this is a heart valve infection or problem, the treatment might include surgery or antibiotic treatment. For additional information contact the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse at: http://www.kidney.niddk.nih.gov or call (800)891-5390.Medical specialties
Nephrology · Pediatric Nephrology
This page is educational content, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment of Renal infarct (kidney damage from an area of blocked blood flow).