Embolization of the kidney in secondary renal hypertension as an alternative to surgical nephrectomy. An experimental study.

Embolization of the renal arterial bed with embolization agent Vilan 500 was performed in 13 dogs. Embolized kidneys shrink after the procedure and the functional parenchyma is extinguished. Peripheral PRA values were followed to find out whether renin production by the embolized kidney is extinguished (the non-embolized kidney was surgically removed). In nine of the thirteen dogs peripheral PRA decreased below 0.5 ng/ml/h; this renin activity can be considered extrarenal. Embolization of the kidneys with Vilan 500 can thus substitute surgical nephrectomy in patients with secondary renal hypertension.