"Spontaneous" atheroembolic disease as a cause of renal failure in the elderly

An 86-year-old man with previous normal renal function was hospitalized because of renal insufficiency. He had a long history of atherosclerotic heart disease, mild hypertension and pulmonary embolism, requiring anticoagulant therapy. In view of the normal-sized kidneys and absence of casts in the urinary sediment, a diagnosis of atheroembolic renal disease was made. The patient's renal function deteriorated, but he refused hemodialysis. Death occurred within a few weeks. At autopsy, severe aortic atherosclerosis was observed and atheroembolic renal disease was confirmed as the cause of renal failure. Occasionally, renal failure can be the sole manifestation of spontaneous atheroembolic disease. This possibility should be considered if the physician is called upon to establish the diagnosis when renal insufficiency develops in atherosclerotic patients.