Concurrence of Cerebral and Renal Infarctions Complicating Atrial Fibrillation

Keimyung Medical Journal 2011;30(1):131-135.

심방세동 환자에서 신장경색과 동시에 발병한 뇌경색

이현아; 이형

Abstract

Although renal infarction causes irreversible ischemic damage; it is difficult to be detected due to rare occurrence and non-specific clinical manifestations. A 73-year-old woman with atrial fibrillation presented with simultaneously developed right hemiparesis and right flank pain lasting 3.5 hours. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed left cerebral infarction suggesting embolic causes and we started intravenous anti-coagulation with heparin. We performed abdominal computed tomography to know the cause of persistent flank pain; and the patient was diagnosed as having acute renal infarction. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of co-occurrence of the cerebral and renal infarctions; especially when patients had acute flank pain in addition to neurological signs or symptoms.

Key Words: Atrial fibrillation, Cerebral infarction, Renal infarction