Abstract

Herein we describe a sixty-one-year-old man with unilateral segmental renal artery emboli treated with renal intra-arterial streptokinase infusion. The initial infusion rate was 9,000 units1hr. which was decreased to 5,000 units/hr. over the next six hours. Periodic arteriography demonstrated progressive lysis and virtual complete resolution after fifty-two hours of infusion. Intravenous pyelogram (IVP) six weeks later showed almost complete return of function compared with IVP obtained six years earlier. We have demonstrated successful clot lysis at an infusion rate of 5,000 units/hr., compared with reported rates of 25,000 units/hr. and without the frequently utilized initial large intravenous bolus. Such low-dose streptokinase infusion should, theoretically, limit the incidence of recognized dose-related complications and permit its use in clinical settings where higher dosages are contraindicated. Intra-arterial streptokinase therapy seems particularly suitable for the high surgical risk patient and in arterial lesions not amenable to surgery. The availability of this potentially efficacious therapy suggests that aggressive diagnostic studies be pursued early in patients suspected of having an acute renal arterial embolus.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call