CHOLESTEROL EMBOLI PRESENTING AS ACUTE ALLOGRAFT DYSFUNCTION AFTER RENAL-TRANSPLANTATION

Cholesterol emboli are a common complication of atherosclerotic vascul ar disease. A 40-yr-old renal transplant recipient who developed acute allograft dysfunction 1 day after the initiation of cyclosporine ther apy and 6 days after transplantation is described. A renal allograft b iopsy revealed cholesterol emboli in interlobular arteries and in glom eruli. Four previously reported cases of cholesterol emboli in renal a llografts are described, and the cause and pathogenesis of atheroembol ic disease are reviewed. Atheroemboli causing injury to the renal allo graft may arise from either donor or recipient vessels. Vigilance for the occurrence of these emboli needs to be maintained when donor or re cipient vessels demonstrate evidence of significant atherosclerotic va scular disease.