Treatment of atheroembolization with corticosteroids.

Aortic atheroembolization is a feared complication of invasive procedures such as arteriography, often leading to devastating complications including renal insufficiency. To date, even in cases with evolving renal failure, there is no recommended treatment. This case report describes the successful treatment with corticosteroids of a patient with deteriorating renal function after renal arteriography and angioplasty, resulting in rapid and sustained improvement in renal function. The implications of this observation are discussed.