Atheroembolism

Abstract

Lesions typical of atheroembolism are apparent on the feet (Panel A) of a 65-year-old man who had undergone left heart catheterization through the femoral approach four weeks earlier. Nonoliguric renal failure developed (serum creatinine, 5.5 mg per deciliter [490 m mol per liter]), and livedo reticularis and cutaneous infarcts were present on both feet, with preserved distal pulses. A transesophageal echocardiogram of the descending thoracic aorta showed multiple complex, pedunculated, mobile, protruding lesions presumed to be atheromas (arrows in Panel B), the probable source of embolism.