Coagulopathy in the nephrotic syndrome

Abstract

Coagulopathy in the nephrotic syndrome (NS) is very rare. Simultaneous prolongation of both prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time suggests common coagulation pathway abnormality such as liver dysfunction, Vitamin K deficiency, disseminated intravascular coagulation, or primary fibrinolysis. This results in difficulty in proceeding with renal biopsy and tissue diagnosis. We report one such case of NS with coagulopathy and refractoriness to correction with blood products, which led us to make a diagnosis of AL amyloidosis, which was confirmed with abdominal fat pad biopsy and other work-up.