A Case of Idiopathic Retroperitoneal Fibrosis with Acute Renal Failure and a Pleural Effusion

Korean J Med > Volume 80(2); 2011 > Article

Original Article

The Korean Journal of Medicine 2011;80(2):263-267.

A Case of Idiopathic Retroperitoneal Fibrosis with Acute Renal Failure and a Pleural Effusion

Seung Won Koo, Mi Ae Kim, Ju Hwan Kim, Kwang Ho Yoo, Hyun Jung Park, Kyung Ho Kim, Hyung-Jong Kim

급성 신부전과 흉수를 동반한 원발성 후복막강 섬유화증 1예

구승원, 김미애, 김주환, 유광호, 박현정, 김경호, 김형종

Abstract

Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (IRF) is characterized by a fibrotic process and chronic inflammation of the retroperitoneal area and aorta. The development of retroperitoneal inflammation and fibrosis often results in periureteral encasement, ureteral obstruction, acute renal failure, and subsequent chronic renal failure and, rarely, mediastinal, pericardial, or pleural involvement. Our patient presented with left flank pain and abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed a retroperitoneal mass encompassing the aorta and both ureters. IRF was diagnosed after a biopsy of the retroperitoneal mass. A complicating left pleural effusion and acute renal failure developed and the patient underwent a percutaneous nephrostomy and was treated with prednisolone. After this, the patient’s symptoms, renal failure, and pleural effusion improved and the retroperitoneal mass decreased in size. We report a case of IRF with a pleural effusion and acute renal failure that improved with steroid treatment, with a literature review.

Key Words: Retroperitoneal fibrosis; Acute renal failure; Pleural effusion