A case of spontaneous recanalization following renal infarction

A 30-year-old-male was admitted to our hospital with a tentative diagnosis of appendicitis. We found no signs of peritonitis, and therefore suspected urinary tract calculi. Intravenous pyelography revealed his right kidney to be nonfunctional, while retrograde pyelography was normal. Angiography revealed right renal infarction. Renovascular hypertension was present, and treatment with captopril was prescribed. Two years later without medication he had normal blood pressure and plasma renin activity. Intravenous pyelography revealed a right kidney functioning well, and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) revealed spontaneous recanalization of his right renal artery.