Thin basement membrane disease and acute renal failure secondary to gross hematuria and tubular necrosis

Abstract A patient with thin basement membrane disease (TBMD), macroscopic hematuria, and acute renal failure is described. A renal biopsy showed massive occlusion of renal tubules by red blood cells and casts. This was accompanied by tubular cell damage consistent with acute tubular necrosis. The patient was receiving warfarin because of a history of deep venous thrombosis at the time he developed the acute renal failure. The possible relationship of the warfarin therapy to the TBMD, intratubular hemorrhage, and acute renal failure are discussed.