Learn About Acute Arterial Occlusion of Kidney
Acute arterial occlusion of the kidney is a sudden, severe blockage of the artery that supplies blood to the kidney.
Acute renal arterial thrombosis; Renal artery embolism; Acute renal artery occlusion; Embolism - renal artery
The kidneys need a good blood supply. The main artery to the kidney is called the renal artery. Reduced blood flow through the renal artery can hurt kidney function. A complete blockage of blood flow to the kidney can often result in permanent kidney failure.
Acute arterial occlusion of the renal artery can occur after injury or trauma to the abdomen, side, or back. Blood clots that travel through the bloodstream (emboli) can lodge in the renal artery. Pieces of plaque from the walls of the arteries can come loose (on their own or during a medical procedure that affects an artery). This debris can block the main kidney artery or one of the smaller vessels.
The risk of renal artery blockages increases in people who have certain heart disorders, which make them likely to form blood clots. These include mitral stenosis and atrial fibrillation.
A narrowing of the renal artery is called renal artery stenosis. This condition increases the risk of a sudden blockage.
You may not have symptoms when one kidney does not function because the second kidney can filter the blood. However, high blood pressure (hypertension) may come on suddenly and be difficult to control.
If your other kidney is not working fully, blockage of the renal artery may cause symptoms of acute kidney failure. Other symptoms of acute arterial occlusion of the renal artery include:
- Abdominal pain
- Abrupt decrease in urine output
- Back pain
- Blood in the urine
- Flank pain or pain in the side
- Symptoms of high blood pressure such as headache, change in vision, and swelling
Note: There may be no pain. Pain, if it is present, most often develops suddenly.
Some people do not need treatment. Blood clots may get better on their own over time.
You may have treatment to open the artery if the blockage is discovered quickly or it is affecting your only working kidney. Treatment to open the artery may include:
- Clot-dissolving medicines (thrombolytics)
- Medicines that prevent the blood from clotting (anticoagulants), such as warfarin
- Surgical repair of the renal artery
- Insertion of a tube (catheter) into the renal artery to open the blockage
You may need temporary dialysis to treat acute kidney failure. Medicines to lower cholesterol may be needed if the blockage is due to clots from plaque buildup in the arteries.
Reem Alshaman practices in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Ms. Alshaman is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Arterial Occlusion of Kidney. Her top areas of expertise are Acute Arterial Occlusion of Kidney, Gastrointestinal Perforation, Colitis, and Ulcerative Colitis.
Mark Farber is a primary care provider, practicing in Internal Medicine in Sherman Oaks, California. Dr. Farber is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Arterial Occlusion of Kidney. His top areas of expertise are Acute Arterial Occlusion of Kidney, Systemic Capillary Leak Syndrome, Peripheral Artery Disease, Stent Placement, and Aneurysm Repair.
University Primary Care Practices Inc
Natalie Evans is a primary care provider, practicing in Internal Medicine in Conneaut, Ohio. Dr. Evans is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Arterial Occlusion of Kidney. Her top areas of expertise are Deep Vein Thrombosis, Pulmonary Embolism, Venous Insufficiency, Embolectomy, and Thrombectomy. Dr. Evans is currently accepting new patients.
Damage caused by arterial occlusion may go away. However, in most cases, it is permanent.
If only one kidney is affected, the healthy kidney may take over filtering the blood and producing urine. If you have only one working kidney, arterial occlusion leads to acute kidney failure. This can develop into chronic kidney disease or failure.
Complications may include:
- Acute kidney failure
- Chronic kidney disease
- High blood pressure
- Malignant hypertension
Contact your provider if:
- You stop producing urine
- You feel sudden, severe pain in the back, flank, or abdomen
Get emergency medical help right away if you have symptoms of arterial occlusion and have only one working kidney.
In many cases, the disorder is not preventable. The most important way to reduce your risk is to stop smoking.
People at risk for developing blood clots may need to take anti-clotting medicines. Taking steps to control diseases related to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) may reduce your risk.
Summary: The goal of this observational study is to test the diagnostic performance of ferumoxytol-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography/ venography（FE-MRA/MRV） on panvascular disease. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. How about the imaging quality of FE-MRA/MRV for panvascular disease? 2. What is the diagnostic performance of FE-MRA/MRV for panvascular disease? Participants will be divided in...
Published Date: April 01, 2025
Published By: Walead Latif, MD, Nephrologist and Clinical Associate Professor, Rutgers Medical School, Newark, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Coffman TM, Smith SR. Vascular disorders of the kidney. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 110.
Greco BA, Papamarkakis KE. Renovascular hypertension, atherosclerotic renal vascular disease, and thromboembolic kidney disease. In: Johnson RJ, Floege J, Tonelli M, eds. Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 43.
Judd E, Sanders PW, Agarwal A. Diagnosis and clinical evaluation of acute kidney injury. In: Johnson RJ, Floege J, Tonelli M, eds. Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 72.
Myers DJ, Myers SI. Systemic complications: renal. In: Sidawy AN, Perler BA, eds. Rutherford's Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 46.