The Journal of international medical research
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The "nutcracker" phenomenon results from compression of the left renal vein between the superior mesenteric artery and the aorta. The main features of this phenomenon are non-glomerular haematuria on urinalysis and stenosis of the left renal vein with dilatation of the vein distal to the stenosis. ⋯ The coexistence of immunoglobulin A nephropathy was suspected when these characteristics were observed in patients with the "nutcracker" phenomenon. In such cases, a renal biopsy is needed for a final diagnosis.