["Pearl necklace" arteries in vascular nephropathy with acute renal insufficiency (author's transl)]

The authors study "pearl necklace" arteries (PNA) in vascular nephropathies with acute renal insufficiency. Seventeen patients underwent aortography complemented by selective angiography of the renal, superior mesenteric and coeliac arteries to seek renal and extra-renal lesions. PNA were discovered remarkably often (mesenteric branches and renal arteries above all). Three types of PNA are described. PNA do not occur in acute angitis (3 cases, 2 PAN). They almost invariably occur in ATN (7 cases) and may be seen in ASMN (7 cases), which eliminates any diagnostic value in the distinction of these two types of acute anuric vascular nephropathy. The functional nature of PNA is open to discussion, but it appears that in the long term histological changes and functional modifications in the involved areas may occur. The role of hypertension and vaso-active substances in the aetiology of PNA is discussed.