| Atheroembolic Renal Disease
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Etiology
Cholesterol crystals from atheromatous plaques affecting more proximal
arterial vessels, usually the aorta.
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Pathogenesis
Fragments of atheromatous
material from larger arterial vessels such as the aorta or renal artery
embolize to small arteries, arterioles and glomeruli.,
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Epidemiology
Occurs in patients with pre-existing
severe atherosclerotic arterial disease, therefore patients tend to be
elderly. Patients who have had surgical or radiologic procedures to the
heart, aorta or renal arteries are at risk for developing atheroembolic
renal disease.
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General Gross Description
There are no
distinctive gross pathologic features to this disease process. The kidneys
usually show the features of benign nephrosclerosis that is part of
generalized severe atherosclerosis.
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General Microscopic Description
The hallmark of the disease
process is the microscopic presence of needle-shaped crystals occluding the
lumens of small arterial vessels. Other existing parenchymal changes
probably reflect pre-existing severe atherosclerosis.
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Clinical Correlation
The patients are usually elderly with severe atherosclerotic vascular
disease. The clinical manifestations of this disease process are
dependent on the extent of renal vascular involvement. Patients may have no
clinical manifestations or may present with acute renal failure.
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References
Cotran RS, Kumar V, Robbins SL: Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. 5th ed. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 1994, pp. 981.
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| Atheroembolic Renal Disease
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| Synopsis by: Harold Yamase M.D. (T71000M35360)[112]
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