EFFECT OF LOCAL LOW-DOSE THROMBOLYSIS ON CLINICAL OUTCOME IN ACUTE EMBOLIC RENAL-ARTERY OCCLUSION

PURPOSE: To determine the utility of local thrombolysis in treatment o f acute embolic renal artery occlusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourtee n patients with acute embolic renal artery occlusion treated with loca l low-dose thrombolysis were studied. Diagnosis was made with renal sc intigraphy and selective renal arteriography. RESULTS: Thrombolysis wa s successful in 13 of 14 patients. During 1-72 months of follow-up (me an, 27.1 months), renal function did not improve on the side of comple te 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 the rapy does not restore renal function and is therefore not indicated on ce the ischemic tolerance of the kidney (approximately 90 minutes) has been exceeded.