ABSENCE OF THE INFERIOR VENA-CAVA CAUSING REPEATED DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS IN AN ADULT - A CASE-REPORT

Agenesis of the inferior vena cava is an uncommon congenital vascular malformation. Although theoretically it may favor venous stasis, it is not normally associated with venous thrombosis. The authors found onl y three reports of the coexistence of both entities, and only one of t hese rules out the existence of associated hypercoagulability. They re port the case of a patient with a history of repeated venous thrombosi s. Magnetic resonance angiography and venography demonstrated complete agenesis of the inferior vena cava and persistence of a cardinal veno us system with azygos and hemiazygos continuation, associated with rig ht renal hypoplasia. Studies ruled out hypercoagulability syndrome, ei ther primary or secondary to an occult neoplasm. The authors conclude that venous malformations, although rare, may cause thromboembolic dis ease, especially in young patients, and that magnetic resonance angiog raphy is a useful diagnostic alternative to conventional phlebography.