Renal arteriovenous fistula treated by catheter embolization

Percutaneous renal biopsy is now accepted as a useful tool for the investigation of diffuse renal disease. A possible resultant mishap is the formation of an arteriovenous fistula, a complication that is usually asymptomatic and self-limiting (Bennet and Wiener, 1965). This report deals with an iatrogenic renal arteriovenous fistula that was accompanied by massive haematuria, and was successfully treated by catheter embolization of the feeding artery. A 50-year-old woman had presented two years previously with fever, skin rash, pleural effusion, arthritis, hepatosplenomegaly, and an abnormal urinary sediment. Investigation failed to confirm the diagnosis of collagen disease; however, the patient partially improved on Prednisone and Chloroquine. Her blood pressure was always normal (110/70).