[Renal ablation by transcatheter renal arterial embolization in the treatment of benign renal disease].

Renal ablation by transcatheter renal arterial embolization (TAE) was performed in 10 patients with benign renal disease (hydronephrosis n = 6; renovascular hypertension n = 3; nephrotic syndrome n = 1). Each affected kidney had little or no renal function. Six patients with hydronephrosis were treated with TAE using absolute ethanol alone in three patients and the combination of absolute ethanol and gelatin sponge in the other three. Each patient was followed by sclerotherapy of the pelvocalyceal system via nephrostomy using absolute ethanol. In four of the six patients, the embolized kidney had no urine, and there was very little urine in the remaining two. The size of the embolized kidney was markedly decreased on CT. The three patients with renovascular hypertension were pre-studied by selective and renal vein sampling for PRA, and the kidney excreting higher renin was embolized by TAE with absolute ethanol. Blood pressure has become manageable without antihypertensive drug in two patients and with a reduced amount of drug in one. The patient with nephrotic syndrome had end stage renal failure and showed significant protein excretion. To prevent further protein loss, both kidneys were embolized with stainless steel coils. Urine output was significantly decreased, and consequently, hypoalbuminemia improved. All patients tolerated the procedure well, and there were no significant complications. Renal ablation by TAE may be an alternative to surgical treatment in selected patients with benign renal disease, particularly in patients with contraindications to surgery and in the elderly. Absolute ethanol and gelatin sponge seem safe and effective for TAE in patients with hydronephrosis and renovascular hypertension. For hydronephrosis, we recommend combining TAE with sclerotherapy of the pelvocalyceal system via nephrostomy using absolute ethanol. Though we successfully applied steel coil for the patient with nephrotic syndrome, absolute ethanol may be equally effective.