Percutaneous renal artery embolisation of non-functioning allograft. Preliminary experience.
OBJECTIVE
Percutaneous renal artery embolisation has been introduced as an alternative to nephrectomy in patients with non-functioning allograft and Graft Intolerance Syndrome (GIS). The symptoms resulting from GIS include fever, local pain, hypertension and haematuria.


METHODS
From April to October 2003, five patients were treated using this technique. The intraparenchymal renal arteries were embolized by injection of calibrated tris-acryl gelatin microspheres of increasing size (from 100-300 to 700-900 microns) and occlusion was completed by the insertion of 5mm to 8mm steel coils into the renal artery.


RESULTS
The procedure was well tolerated in all cases and no major complications occurred. In 3 patients GIS-related symptoms disappeared immediately. One patient required a second embolisation due to collateral circulation arising from a lumbar artery with resolution of symptoms. In the last case, the patient underwent nephrectomy because of septic fever.


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of our preliminary experience we believe that, in selected patients, percutaneous renal artery embolisation is an effective, repeatable and minimally invasive alternative to nephrectomy with no significant serious complications.
Larini
Pietro
P
Sezione di Radiologia Vascolare ed Interventistica, Ospedale Maggiore di Parma, Parma, Italy. pietrolarini@libero.it
Marcato
Carla
C
Monaco
Delio
D
Bresciani
Paolo
P
Capocasale
Enzo
E
Mazzoni
Maria Patrizia
MP
Dalla Valle
Raffaele
R
Busi
Nicola
N
D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D011859:Radiography; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*