[A case of renal artery embolism treated with urokinase].

Herein we describe a 59-year-old man with left renal artery emboli treated with selective intra-arterial infusion followed by systemic intravenous infusion of urokinase. Total dose of infused urokinase was 2,712,000 units. Although the function of the affected kidney was not recovered, we have demonstrated successful clot lysis and no complication. Selective or systemic thrombolytic therapy is extremely promising as a method of treatment of renal artery embolism, especially in the poor operative candidate. The availability of this potentially efficacious therapy suggests that aggressive diagnostic studies be performed early in patients suspected of having renal artery embolism.