Radiology, Vol 189, 549-554, Copyright © 1993 by Radiological Society of North America

ARTICLES

Effect of local low-dose thrombolysis on clinical outcome in acute embolic renal artery occlusion

U Blum, P Billmann, T Krause, A Gabelmann, E Keller, E Moser and M Langer
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital Freiburg, Germany.

PURPOSE: To determine the utility of local thrombolysis in treatment of acute embolic renal artery occlusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients with acute embolic renal artery occlusion treated with local low-dose thrombolysis were studied. Diagnosis was made with renal scintigraphy and selective renal arteriography. RESULTS: Thrombolysis was successful in 13 of 14 patients. During 1-72 months of follow-up (mean, 27.1 months), renal function did not improve on the side of complete renal artery occlusion, whereas stabilization of renal function at the pretherapy level was seen in patients with incomplete obstruction of the renal artery or complete obstruction at the level of segmental branches. In none of the patients did renal function return to normal. CONCLUSION: In acute embolic renal artery occlusion, thrombolytic therapy does not restore renal function and is therefore not indicated once the ischemic tolerance of the kidney (approximately 90 minutes) has been exceeded.

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