RENAL-TRANSPLANT VEIN OCCLUSION - AN EARLY DIAGNOSTIC SIGN

We report new Doppler ultrasound findings in two patients with renal v ein thrombosis and obstruction following renal transplantation. In bot h cases there was a marked reduction in the systolic peak with relativ ely normal diastolic flow in the intrarenal arterial waveforms. Venous flow was still detectable at the renal hilum in both cases, and throu ghout the graft in one case. We suggest that, in the absence of signs of proximal renal artery stenosis, small amplitude arterial waveforms with a depressed systolic peak and maintained diastolic how, despite i ntrarenal venous how, represent renal vein thrombosis in evolution or renal vein obstruction. These findings merit early surgical exploratio n.