Kidney infarction in Friedreich's ataxia with dilated cardiomyopathy

BMJ Case Rep. 2012 Sep 30:2012:bcr2012006550. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2012-006550.

Abstract

A 37-year-old man with advanced Friedreich's ataxia was referred to our emergency department with acute exacerbated abdominal pain of unclear aetiology. Laboratory tests showed slightly increased inflammatory parameters, elevated troponin and B-type natriuretic peptide, as well as minimal proteinuria. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a pre-existing dilated cardiomyopathy. Abdominal sonography showed no pathological alterations. Owing to persistent pain under analgesia, a contrast-enhanced CT-abdomen was performed, which revealed a non-homogeneous perfusion deficit of the right kidney, although neither abdominal vascular alteration, cardiac thrombus, deep vein thrombosis nor a patent foramen ovale could be detected. Taking all clinical and radiological results into consideration, the current incident was diagnosed as a thromboembolic kidney infarction. As a consequence, lifelong oral anticoagulation was initiated.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Pain / etiology
  • Adult
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / diagnostic imaging
  • Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / etiology*
  • Echocardiography
  • Friedreich Ataxia / complications*
  • Humans
  • Infarction / diagnosis
  • Infarction / etiology*
  • Kidney / blood supply*
  • Kidney / diagnostic imaging
  • Male
  • Thromboembolism / diagnosis
  • Thromboembolism / etiology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed