Renal vein thrombosis with recurrent pulmonary emboli in the nephrotic syndrome: use of the Greenfield filter

We describe a case of renal vein thrombosis in association with the nephrotic syndrome. The patient had recurrent pulmonary emboli which, having failed to respond to routine anticoagulant treatment, were managed successfully by the insertion of a Greenfield filter into the inferior vena cava above the renal vein thrombosis site. The only coagulation abnormality in this patient was a deficiency of antithrombin III.