Cholesterol emboli syndrome following cardiac catheterization.

Cholesterol emboli syndrome should always be considered in an elderly patient with acute renal failure or cutaneous lesions following an invasive vascular procedure or surgery. Laboratory findings that suggest atheroemboli include eosinophilia, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, leukocytosis, and anemia. Diagnosis is made by biopsy of the affected organ, and treatment is supportive. Patients usually die of multisystem failure.