title: Percutaneous renal artery embolisation of non-functioning renal allografts with clinical intolerance.
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous renal artery embolisation of non-functioning renal allografts in patients with graft intolerance syndrome (GIS). Transcatheter artery embolisation was performed in 30 kidney transplant recipients with GIS. The duration of graft function had been 60+/-45 months. Infectious disease was ruled out in all patients. Embolisation consisted of the injection of polyvinyl alcohol microspheres followed by the insertion of a stainless steel coil in the renal artery branches. Symptoms of GIS included: fever-graft pain (44%, n=13), fever-hematuria-pain (20%, n=6), fever-hematuria (13%, n=4) and fever alone (23%, n=7). Latency time between graft failure and embolisation was 184+/-227 (17-1181) days. Embolisation was clinically successful with the prolonged disappearance of GIS in 24 patients (80%). Six patients showed initial clinical improvement, but GIS reappeared at 40+/-18 days, and graft nephrectomy was required. There were no major complications associated with embolisation and no deaths. Perirenal collateral supply was a risk factor for the reappearance of GIS. Renal vascular embolisation is a simple, safe and effective technique for treating renal allograft intolerance syndrome and could be a feasible alternative for the first-line treatment.
authors.affiliation: Renal Transplant Unit, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain. fcofan@medicina.ub.es
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cofan
authors.forename: Maria-Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Real
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vilardell
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Montanya
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blasco
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oppenheimer
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Talbot-Wright
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alcover
mesh_terms: D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012077:Renal Artery; D012449:Safety; D013997:Time Factors