Key result
Diagnostic arteriographic procedures were associated with a 30% (aortograms) and 25.5% (cardiac catheterization) incidence of cholesterol embolization at autopsy, compared to 4.3% in controls.
Why the study?
Do diagnostic arteriographic procedures increase the incidence of cholesterol embolization compared to an age and disease-matched control population?
Observational (n=71)
Do diagnostic arteriographic procedures increase the incidence of cholesterol embolization compared to an age and disease-matched control population?
Diagnostic arteriographic procedures are associated with a significantly higher incidence of cholesterol embolization at autopsy compared to matched controls.
May warrant embolization caution with arteriography; leaves open clinical impact and need for prospective trials.
Cholesterol embolization is not widely recognized as a complication of major arteriographic procedures. In a retrospective study of 71 autopsies of patients who underwent diagnostic arteriographic procedures (20 with aortograms, 51 with cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography), we found an incidence of cholesterol embolization of 30% and 25.5%, respectively, in comparison with 4.3% in an age and disease-matched control population. The organs most frequently affected are the kidney and spleen following aortogram, and the myocardium following cardiac catheterization. The clinical importance of these findings cannot be ascertained from this study, but our experience with a single case demonstrates that radiographic studies may produce substantial morbidity. (Arch Intern Med138:1430-1432, 1978)
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Germán Ramírez (1978) conducted an observational in Diagnostic arteriographic procedures (n=71). Diagnostic arteriographic procedures vs. Age and disease-matched control population was evaluated on Incidence of cholesterol embolization. Diagnostic arteriographic procedures were associated with a 30% (aortograms) and 25.5% (cardiac catheterization) incidence of cholesterol embolization at autopsy, compared to 4.3% in controls.
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