Subclinical growth of an arteriovenous fistula associated with renal biopsy: a case report

Abstract

BackgroundRenal biopsy is not free from complications and patients who undergo this procedure are usually hospitalized to receive intensive care for several days after biopsy. In contrast, after this period, routine follow-up to detect biopsy-associated complications is rarely scheduled, unless the patient develops a clinical manifestation. We describe a case of marked enlargement of arteriovenous fistula in the kidney that occurred many years after renal biopsy. In contrast to the previous cases requiring interventional radiology, our patient showed subclinical growth of fistula over about nine years.Case presentationA 24-year-old man with a history of percutaneous renal biopsy was hospitalized for interventional radiology. Gross hematuria emerged shortly after biopsy, but completely disappeared with administration of hemostatic agents and bed rest. Subsequently, the patient had few symptoms for many years. A giant fistula (a gourd-shaped mass, size 26 × 22 and 12 × 11 mm) was unexpectedly detected by ultrasonography performed for examination of an unrelated disorder (slight elevation of serum transaminase) at 9 years after the original biopsy. The fistula was successfully treated with radiological intervention. Thus, subclinical development of complications associated with renal biopsy should be considered, even in an uneventful course.ConclusionsThis case provides a platform to discuss the importance of long-term follow-up of patients after renal biopsy despite of its difficulty.

Arteriovenous fistula-related renal bleeding 5 days after percutaneous renal biopsy

“…Franke et al reported one case of severe bleeding at 3 weeks after biopsy, with a decrease of hemoglobin by > 3 g/dL [5]. In addition, Murakami et al reported the unexpected detection of a giant fistula by ultrasonography at 9 years after biopsy [6]. There have been a few reports on the technical success and effectiveness of embolization for post-biopsy AVF, including the study by Lorenzen et al, who found that embolization was successfully achieved without complications in 19 of 20 patients with AVF after biopsy of a transplanted kidney [7].…”