Korean J Nephrol.  2001 Jan;20(1):161-165.

A Case of Urinothorax in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease Hemodialyzed

• So MJ
• Na BJ
• Kim JL
• Lee JH
• Kim JS
• Rho YH
• Kim T
• Moon KH

Abstract

Urinothorax is rare cause of pleural effusion. Urinothorax should be considered when pleural effusion occurs in patients with urinary tract obstruction accompanied by retroperitoneal urinoma. It has been reported in patients with trauma, malignancy, kidney biopsy and renal transplantation. Most cases are diagnosed retrospectively by promt resolution of symptoms after relief of urinary obstruction. But diagnosis can be made based on clinical suspicion, radiological findings and biochemical analysis of the effusion and most important finding is the pleural level of creatinine is higher than the serum level. We experienced right pleural effusion in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease hemodialyzed. The patient had right urinoma in the retroperitoneal space before pleural effusion developed. After 3month, he complained acute dyspnea. There was no effect in resolving effusion by lowering dry weight. We thought alternative diagnostic possibility, urinothorax and checked the pleural fluid to serum creatinine ratio. Finally concluded that pleural effusion was urinothorax secondary to remnant left polycystic kidney rupture and tried left nephrectomy. The patient showed reduction of pleural effusion. It is important to alert physician to this condition and to avoid the other invasive diagnostic study.

Keyword

Urinothorax; ADPKD; Hemodialysis

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Creatinine
Diagnosis
Dyspnea
Humans
Kidney
Kidney Transplantation
Nephrectomy
Pleural Effusion
Polycystic Kidney Diseases
Polycystic Kidney, Autosomal Dominant*
Renal Dialysis
Retroperitoneal Space
Retrospective Studies
Rupture
Urinary Tract
Urinoma
Creatinine