INTRATHROMBIC UROKINASE REVERSES NEONATAL RENAL-ARTERY THROMBOSIS

A term infant with aortic and renal artery thrombosis is described, in whom the right kidney experienced complete ischemia for 5 days. A con tinuous intrathrombic urokinase infusion induced complete clot lysis a nd reperfusion of the right kidney. Follow-up studies of renal functio n and renal growth have been normal. This is the first report to descr ibe complete pharmacological salvage of a neonatal kidney after prolon ged warm ischemia. This case underscores both the ability of the neona tal kidney to recover from prolonged ischemia and the need to effect t hrombolysis before irreversible renal injury occurs. The intrathrombic use of fibrinolytic agents in similarly affected infants warrants con sideration and further study.