Intra-arterial streptokinase and renal artery embolization.

An animal experiment was constructed to simulate the clinical entity of renal artery embolization. Because of the high morbidity and mortality rates associated with the current methods of treatment, percutaneous infusion of the renal artery with streptokinase was evaluated as a new method of therapy. Results were analyzed by the following criteria: (1) arteriography, (2) gross pathology, and (3) differential renal function studies. In 12 dogs whose left kidney was embolized without treatment, renal function was 38 per cent of the contralateral normal kidney twenty-one days later. Seven dogs were embolized but treated immediately with intra-arterial streptokinase for six hours; renal function was increased to 58 per cent of the contralateral normal kidney. Various fibrinolytic agents and their possible clinical application in embolism are discussed.