Neonatal renal and inferior vena cava thrombosis associated with fetal thrombotic vasculopathy: a case report

BACKGROUND: Fetal thrombotic vasculopathy is a described placental diagnosis associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. It may also predispose children to somatic thromboembolic events. As far as we know, this is the first case of inferior vena cava thrombosis associated with fetal thrombotic vasculopathy in a completely asymptomatic newborn. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of an asymptomatic, full-term Turkish male neonate delivered at 39 weeks of gestation diagnosed as having thrombosis of the renal vein and inferior vena cava. Diagnosis was guided only by the presence of edematous umbilical cord with macroscopic signs of clotting and, subsequently, microscopic features of the placenta, suggesting fetal thrombotic vasculopathy. CONCLUSIONS: Thrombosis of the renal and inferior vena cava in our healthy, asymptomatic full-term neonate is clearly associated with fetal thrombotic vasculopathy. The diagnosis of thrombosis in this neonate was incidental. This suggests that fetal thrombotic vasculopathy may cause unrecognized neonatal thrombosis. Untreated neonatal thrombosis may later compromise growth and function of the involved organs; therefore, maintaining a high index of suspicion based on thrombotic vasculopathy is paramount.