Acute renal infarction in a heavy smoker

• DOI: 10.1007/s11255-006-9089-2
• Publication Date: 2007-03-20T09:18:12Z
• Authors: Ihsan Ergun; Kenan Keven; Basol Canbakan; Yakup Ekmekci; Billur Sezgin; Gokhan Nergizoglu; Kenan Ates; Oktay Karatan
• Keywords: Nephrology

Renal infarction is a rare cause of acute abdominal and flank pain. Whether it occurs due to thrombosis or embolism, the occlusion of the renal arteries always results in renal infarction. Cigarette smoking is a known risk factor for arterial thrombosis. Both vasoconstrictor and pro-thrombotic effects of smoking lead to arterial thrombosis. Herein, we report a case of acute renal infarction in a heavy smoker. The definite diagnosis was made by contrast-enhanced abdominal computerized tomography and renal arteriography.