Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (RAS) usually involves the ostium and the proximal one-third of the renal artery main branch. Percutaneous renal artery angioplasty with stent placement is a well recognized treatment for atherosclerotic RAS. Occasionally, atherosclerotic RAS involves renal artery bifurcations. However, stent implantation in atherosclerotic RAS involving bifurcation is not only troublesome, but also challenging because of side branch occlusion and in-stent restenosis (ISR). In the present report, we describe the use of drug-eluting stents (DES) with provisional T-stenting technique for the treatment of renal artery bifurcation lesion. Follow-up angiogram showed no significant ISR 18 months after the procedure. In the treatment of renal bifurcation lesions, a two-stent strategy using DES could be a viable option in selected patients.
Aged ; *Angioplasty ; *Drug-Eluting Stents ; Humans ; Male ; Renal Artery/pathology/radiography ; Renal Artery Obstruction/pathology/*therapy ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of absolute ethanol and gelfoam particles and the degree of vascular recanalization after gelfoam embolization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transcatheter renal arterial embolization(TRAE) was performal in 16 rabbits ; Eight were embolized with absolute ethanol, and eight with gelfoam particles. Of this total, three died less than one week after embolization. Pre- and post embolization angiographies at five minutes, one week, two weeks(gelfoam group only) and 5-6 weeks after embolization were performed. Six rabbits were sacrificed at one week, and seven at 5-6 weeks after embolization. Pathologic examination was performed. RESULTS: The ethanol group(n=6) showed complete occlusion of the main renal artery on follow-up angiography at one week and 5-6 weeks after embolization. The pathologic finding was complete total necrosis of embolized kidneys. The gelfoam group(n=7) showed partial recanalization of renal arteries in follow upangiography at one week, two weeks and 5-6 weeks after embolization. The pathologic finding was partial lysis ofgelfoam particles within intrarenal arteries. CONCLUSION: Absolute ethanol can be used as a permanent embolicagent and gelfoam as a temporary such agent in various clinical applications. Gelfoam, however, did not show complete recanalization on angiography and pathology at six weeks after embolization.
Angiography ; Arteries ; Ethanol* ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Kidney ; Pathology ; Rabbits* ; Renal Artery

Although recently, there have been introduced many new diagnostic tools such as renal scanning and renogram, intravenous urogram remains to be one of the most useful method of urological diagnosis. Therefore it seems warranted to review 363 cases of intravenous urograms performed in the department of urology, St. Mary's hospital, Catholic Medical College during the period of January, 1962 to June, 1964. Among others, especial attention was paid to 60 cases of nonvisualizing kidneys. Of 60 nonvisualizing kidneys, renal tuberculosis occupied 27 cases(45%); ureteral and renal stones 13(21.6%); hydronephrosis 9(15%) (metastatic carcinoma 6(10%)and surgical manipulation 3(5%); Wilms' tumor 5 (8.3%) chronic atrophic pyelonephritis 3(5%) ; One case each of renal cell carcinoma, cystic kidney and thrombosis of the renal artery. Inasmuch as the present study revealed renal tuberculosis to be the most common cause of nonvisualizing kidneys, it is felt that one should always consider the possibility of tuberculosis in the diagnosis of nonvisualizing kidneys in Korea. This fact should be stressed because nontuberculous pathology such as chronic pyelonephritis has been implicated to be the most frequent cause of nonvisualizing kidneys by American authors.
Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Diagnosis ; Hydronephrosis ; Kidney Diseases, Cystic ; Kidney* ; Korea ; Pathology ; Pyelonephritis ; Radiography* ; Renal Artery ; Thrombosis ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Renal ; Ureter ; Urology ; Wilms Tumor

OBJECTIVETo analyze the experience with diagnosis and surgical treatment of visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs).

METHODSFrom June 2003 to December 2008, 8 patients (2 male and 6 female) with 9 VAAs underwent surgical treatment. Mean age was 49 years (ranged from 30 to 72 years). The site of aneurysmal disease was splenic artery in 4 cases, superior mesenteric artery in 2 cases, renal artery in 2 cases (3 aneurysms). In 1 patient of splenic artery aneurysm, portal vein hypertension coexisted. All the VAAs of preoperative diagnostic workup consisted of a ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) scan, and digital subtraction angiography. Six patients were operated on and two patients was treated with endovascular procedures. Only one small VAAs was treated with follow-up.

RESULTSNo deaths or major complications occurred in the perioperative period. All the patients remained symptom free during a follow-up of 26.5 months (ranged from 2 to 60 months). Follow-up consisted of clinical and ultrasound scan examinations or CT scan at 1 and 6 months, and yearly thereafter.

CONCLUSIONSAggressive approach to the treatment of VAAs is essential. Elective open surgical treatment and an endovascular procedure of visceral artery aneurysms are both safe and effective, and offers satisfactory early and long term results. There is some evidence that small (< 2 cm) and asymptomatic VAAs may be safely observed.

Adult ; Aged ; Aneurysm ; surgery ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Renal Artery ; pathology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Splenic Artery ; pathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

Angioplasty, Balloon ; methods ; Atherosclerosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; drug therapy ; Renal Artery Obstruction ; etiology ; therapy ; Stents

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of a liquid embolic agent 2-poly-hydroxyethyl -methacrylate (2-P-HEMA) for renal artery embolization in rabbits.

METHODSThe precipitation time of different concentrations (2%, 3.5%, 5%, 6.5%, 8% and 9.5%) of 2-P-HEMA dissolved in different solutions (ethanol, ethanol/iobitridol, and ethanol/Bi2O3) were determined in flowing water. The mixtures of 2-P-HEMA (2%, 5%, and 8%) with ethanol/ Bi2O3 were injected into the renal arteries of the rabbits, and the artery-embolizing effects were assessed using angiography at 2 and 12 weeks after the injection, with also macroscopic and microscopic examination of the embolized kidneys.

RESULTSThe mixtures of 2-P-HEMA and ethanol formed flocculent precipitation a few seconds after injection into flowing water, and the precipitation time showed no significant variations with the concentration of 2-P-HEMA in the mixture. Low and moderate concentrations of 2-P-HEMA could pass through the microcatheter smoothly with little injection resistance, and resulted in complete occlusion of the renal arteries without adhesion to the microcatheter. Angiography at 2 and 12 weeks detected no recanalization of the occluded renal arteries. Macroscopically, the lumen of the renal arteries was found to be occluded by the embolic agents, and deep penetration of the embolic agents into the glomerular arteries was observed microscopically. The mixture containing high-concentration 2-P-HEMA was difficult to deliver through the microcatheter due to high injection resistance.

CONCLUSION2-P-HEMA can be rapidly precipitated after injection into flowing water, and allows complete embolization of the renal arteries of rabbits at proper concentrations, suggesting its great potential as an endovascular liquid embolic agent.

Animals ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Female ; Male ; Polyhydroxyethyl Methacrylate ; Rabbits ; Radiography ; Random Allocation ; Renal Artery ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology

BACKGROUND: Transfer of foreign genes to the renal glomerular cells is an important step for the gene therapy of renal diseases in which the primary pathology is confined to the glomeruli. We developed a non-surgical method of gene transfer to rabbit renal glomeruli using percutaneous arterial catheterization without any laparatomy procedure. METHODS: The recombinant adenovirus type 5, containing a nuclear-targeted beta-galactosidase gene and driven by a cytomegalovirus promoter, was slowly infused into the unilateral renal artery via percutaneous arterial catheterization. The animals were sacrificed 3 days after virus infusion and lacZ staining was done on the fresh harvested tissue. RESULTS: Only the animals those received 6x10(12) particles/rabbit for 120 minutes show lacZ expression in 90.6+/-5% (n=3) of glomeruli. Mostly, it was the endothelial cells and mesangial cells those were positive for the stain. CONCLUSION: This non-surgical method for gene transduction of the renal glomeruli can be applied to human trials of glomerulus-directed gene therapy.
Adenoviridae ; Animals ; beta-Galactosidase ; Catheterization* ; Catheters* ; Cytomegalovirus ; Endothelial Cells ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Mesangial Cells ; Pathology ; Renal Artery

Renal artery dissection may be caused by iatrogenic injury, trauma, underlying arterial diseases such as fibromuscular disease, atherosclerotic disease, or connective tissue disease. Radiological imaging may be helpful in detecting renal artery pathology, such as renal artery dissection. For patients with acute, isolated renal artery dissection, surgical treatment, endovascular management, or medical treatment have been considered effective measures to preserve renal function. We report a case of renal infarction that came about as a consequence of renal artery dissection.
*Accidental Falls ; Adult ; Aneurysm, Dissecting/*complications ; Humans ; Infarction/*etiology ; Kidney Diseases/*etiology ; Male ; Renal Artery/*pathology ; Risk Factors

Congenital renal arteriovenous fistula complicated with multiple renal arteries malformation is rare and hard to diagnose at early stage. Blood loss and complications after embolization are both severe. Some cases can be diagnosed by ultrasound, enhanced CT scan or digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Cystoscopy and ureteroscopy can identify the location of bleeding, exclude tumors, and discharge ureteral obstruction. A case of congenital renal arteriovenous fistula complicated with multiple renal arteries malformation was reported to investigate the pathogenesis, clinical characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of congenital renal arteriovenous fistula with multiple renal arteries malformation. A 36-year-old female patient with congenital renal arteriovenous fistula with multiple renal arteries malformation was hospitalized in the Department of Urology of Peking University People's Hospital. Five days before admission, the patient experienced whole course painless gross hematuria for 5 days with many blood clots. The patient's blood pressure was 90/70 mmHg, and hemoglobin was 60 g/L. The urinary CT scan showed a right hydronephrosis associated with dilatation of the upper ureter which was obstructed by space occupying lesion of the lower ureter. Many clots in the bladder could also be found in the CT scan. Cystoscopy showed many blood clots in the bladder and confirmed that the bleeding was fromthe right ureteral orifice. Ureteroscopy confirmed that the bleeding was from the right renal pelvis and many blood clots in the right ureter, and found no tumor in the right ureter and renal pelvis. We cleared the blood clots in the right ureter and inserted a ureteral stent.We thought that renal vascular malformation of the right kidney might lead to the hematuria from right renal pelvis. DSA showed a double renal arteries malformation in the right kidney. The diagnosis of "renal arteriovenous fistula" was considered with renal arteriovenous fistula in the right kidney. Selective arteriography revealed the presence of tortuous, coiled, dilated, and multichannelled vessels in the middle of the right kidney. With stainless steel coils, we embolized the vessels which supplied the fistula. Four days after the procedure, gross hematuria disappeared. Five days after the procedure, the patient's anemia improvedand the patient was discharged in good condition. Four months after the procedure, gross hematuria did not recur. The Doppler showed that the right kidney was normal and the renal dynamic showed that the right kidney function was normal. So DSA is the golden standard for diagnosis of congenital renal arteriovenous fistula complicated with multiple renal arteries malformation. Confirming the number of renal arteries by abdominal aorta angiography is necessary to avoid missed diagnosis. Renal arterial embolization is safe and effective.
Adult ; Arteriovenous Fistula/therapy* ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney ; Kidney Diseases/therapy* ; Renal Artery/pathology* ; Ureteral Diseases

Obstructive nephropathy ultimately leads to end-stage renal failure. Renovascular lesions are involved in various nephropathies, and most renal diseases have an ischemic component that underlies the resulting renal fibrosis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether morphological changes occur in the renal vasculature in hydronephrosis and the possible mechanisms involved. A model of complete unilateral ureteral obstruction (CUUO) was used. Experimental animals were divided into five groups: a normal control group (N) and groups of animals at 1st week (O1), 2nd week (O2), 4th week (O4) and 8th week (O8) after CUUO. Blood pressure was measured, renal arterial trees and glomeruli were assessed quantitatively, and renovascular three-dimensional reconstruction was performed on all groups. Glomerular ultrastructural changes were examined by transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the systolic blood pressure was significantly increased in the obstructed groups (O1, O2, O4 and O8). Three-dimensional reconstruction showed sparse arterial trees in the O8 group, and a tortuous and sometimes ruptured glomerular basement membrane was found in the O4 and O8 groups. Furthermore, epithelial media thickness and media/lumen ratio were increased, lumen diameters were decreased, and the cross-sectional area of the media was unaltered in the segmental renal artery, interlobar artery and afferent arterioles, respectively. In conclusion, renal arterial trees and glomeruli were dramatically altered following CUUO and the changes may be partially ascribed to vascular remodeling. Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of renovascular morphological alterations will enable the development of potential therapeutic approaches for hydronephrosis.
Animals ; Blood Pressure ; Disease Models, Animal ; Glomerular Basement Membrane ; blood supply ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Hydronephrosis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Rabbits ; Renal Artery ; pathology ; physiopathology