Unilateral renal artery stenosis with renal atrophy in a patient with metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma treated with sorafenib

BMJ Case Rep. 2013 May 15:2013:bcr2013009898. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-009898.

Abstract

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been recently introduced for treatment of different malignancies. Various cardiovascular toxicities have been reported with TKIs with hypertension being the most common adverse cardiovascular event. We report a case of a 60-year-old woman who developed left renal artery stenosis associated with renal atrophy in the context of metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma treated with sorafenib. Renal atrophy was noticed during serial imaging studies to monitor cancer therapy. Clinically, she was asymptomatic without significant change in blood pressure. The glomerular filtration rate dropped from 88 ml/min/1.73 m(2) at baseline to 56 ml/min/1.73 ml/min and partially recovered to 71 ml/min/1.73 m(2) after renal artery stenting. To our knowledge, this will be the first known case of renal artery stenosis associated with TKI use. Physicians may need to investigate the possibility of developing renal artery stenosis in patients with unexplained worsening in kidney functions while on TKIs.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / adverse effects*
  • Atrophy / chemically induced
  • Atrophy / complications
  • Carcinoma / complications
  • Carcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Papillary
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Kidney / pathology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Niacinamide / adverse effects
  • Niacinamide / analogs & derivatives*
  • Phenylurea Compounds / adverse effects*
  • Renal Artery Obstruction / chemically induced*
  • Renal Artery Obstruction / complications
  • Sorafenib
  • Thyroid Cancer, Papillary
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / complications
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Phenylurea Compounds
  • Niacinamide
  • Sorafenib