Atheromatous embolic disease.

In five patients with atheromatous embolic disease, the diagnosis was made before death in four -- on the basis of cholesterol emboli in the retina in three and from renal pathologic features in 1. Muscle biopsy demonstrated emboli in one patient, and emboli were seen in the vessels of amputated toes in two. All patients died of renal failure, but there was evidence of multisystem involvement in addition. Autopsy in four cases showed characteristic cholesterol emboli in many organs.