Presentation
Three weeks of weight loss, intermittent fevers, worsening peripheral edema, and ascites. Cachectic and anemic.
Patient Data
Severe generalized fluid overload (pleural effusions, pericardial effusion, large volume ascites, subcutaneous edema). Right renal vein thrombosis. These findings can be seen in nephrotic syndrome - consider urinalysis.
Two hypodense with peripheral enhnacement liver lesions likely represent hemangiomata. No clear evidence of malignancy.
Case Discussion
Initial blood tests showed hypoalbuminemia (6 g/L) and anemia (Hb 92 g/L). Urinalysis performed after the CT showed a protein concentration of 4.92 g/L (protein/creatinine ratio 593). Together with the severe fluid overload seen on CT, these findings are diagnostic of nephrotic syndrome. Nephrotic syndrome is known to cause a hypercoagulable state, and it is a common cause of renal vein thrombosis. The patient was subsequently diagnosed with SLE and lupus nephritis (positive ANA and anti-dsDNA, weak positive ENA and Anti-Sm).