[Late revascularization of the renal artery: what are the prognostic criteria?].

Two patients with non functioning silent kidney on excretory urography and renal artery occlusion on angiography, underwent renal artery revascularization without severe hypertension or renal failure. Angiographic appearance of collateral circulation, histologic evidence of intact viable glomeruli and a normal sized kidney are necessary for successful results. Renal blood flow was restored in the two patients but one had slight return of function and the other patient showed no evidence of improvement. Both patients presented criteria for revascularization. The first case was a minor success on the renal scintigraphy. The return of renal function did not occur in the second case because of preexisting renal pathology. We therefore recommend histologic examination before every renal artery revascularization for chronic occlusion.