Angiography in epidemic nephropathy

Nephroangiography has been performed in 35 patients with epidemic nephropathy during the course of the renal lesion phase. In addition to enlarged kidney with thickened cortex, generalized renal vasodilatation was demonstrated in the majority of the cases, frequently combined with rapid circulation. Thus, contrary to previous assumptions, acute oliguric renal insufficiency may also occur in cases with peripheral renal vasodilatation. The angiographic appearance of epidemic nephropathy was characteristic and most evident in the oliguric and anuric phases. Nephroangiography in acute oliguric renal failure may thus be of value for the differential diagnosis and thereby influence the clinical management of the patient.