Wunderlich Syndrome in a Peritoneal Dialysis Patient with Warfarin Iatrogenic Coagulopathy: Should We Really be so Aggressive on Cardioembolic Events Prevention?

Abstract

Wunderlich syndrome is a rare condition characterized by atraumatic spontaneous renal hemorrhage that can have serious associated complications, especially in chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease patients due to their complexity. Diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion, since its classical presentation with Lenk’s triad is only seen in less than a quarter of patients. Early detection is of outmost importance because of this syndrome potential for causing hemodynamic instability and shock. Spontaneous renal hemorrhage has been reported much less frequently in peritoneal dialysis as compared to hemodialysis. To our knowledge, only 3 single-cases involving peritoneal dialysis patients were published since the year 2000. We describe an uncommon case report of a 68-year-old male undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis for 5 years and taking warfarin for permanent atrial fibrillation who developed Wunderlich syndrome presenting with Lenk’s triad. The patient was managed with percutaneous drainage of the renal hemorrhage and was able to continue peritoneal dialysis in the acute phase of disease. Unfortunately, he subsequently developed peritoneal membrane failure having to transition to hemodialysis 2.5 months after the WS episode. The authors will review literature on Wunderlich syndrome on end-stage kidney disease patients, discuss oral anticoagulation on peritoneal dialysis patients, maintenance of the technique, and finally, address the consequences of Wunderlich syndrome on peritoneal membrane diffusion capacity.

Keywords

• hemorrhage/diagnosis
• hemorrhage/etiology
• kidney failure
• chronic
• peritoneal dialysis/adverse effect
• warfarin/adverse effects