Mesangial Hypercellularity in a Patient with Nutcracker Syndrome and Orthostatic Proteinuria

Lee, Eun-Ju; Ha, Tae-Sun

J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol > Volume 10(1); 2006 > Article

J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2006;10(1): 83-88.

기립성 단백뇨를 동반한 Nutcracker 증후군 환아에서의 메산지움 증식성 병리소견 1례

이은주, 하태선

¹충북대학교 의과대학 소아과학교실
²충북대학교 의과대학 소아과학교실

Mesangial Hypercellularity in a Patient with Nutcracker Syndrome and Orthostatic Proteinuria

Eun-Ju Lee, Tae-Sun Ha

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Chngbuk National University
²Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Chngbuk National University

ABSTRACT

Orthostatic or postural proteinuria is a benign condition characterized by the presence of protein in urine samples collected in the upright position during the day and its absence in the supine position. Recently, nutcracker phenomenon has been documented as the source of postural proteinuria. The nutcracker phenomenon refers to compression of the left renal vein between the aorta and superior mesenteric artery, resulting in elevation of pressure in the left renal vein, leading to congestion of the left kidney and occasionally to collateral veins formation. Entrapment of the left renal vein is a cause of left-sided gross hematuria, ureteral and peripelvic varices, unexplained left flank pain and variable degrees of orthostatic proteinuria. We report the case of a 14-year-old girl with orthostatic proteinuria, diagnosed as having nutcracker syndrome by doppler sonography and MR angiography. Because daily protein excretion was more than 1.5 grams over 3 years of follow up, we decided to perform a renal biopsy which revealed moderate mesangial cell proliferation in all glomeruli.

Key words: Nutcracker syndrome | Orthostatic proteinuria | Mesangial hypercellularity