Spontaneous dissecting aneurysm of the renal arteries. A case and a review of the literature.

A case of dissecting aneurysm of the renal arteries is presented. The patient suffered from an intractable subarachnoid bleeding and the kidneys had been selected for transplantation. One kidney was never transplanted, the other was transplanted and rejected after few days. Dissecting aneurysms were present in the main artery and its major ramifications in both kidneys. Many investigators have claimed that dissecting aneurysm and fibromuscular dysplasia of the renal artery are different stages of but one disease. A review of the accumulated literature on dissecting aneurysm of the renal artery reveals, however, that this disorder shows a preponderance of middle-aged men, whereas fibromuscular dysplasia of the renal artery affects adolescent girls. It is concluded that the two disorders of the renal artery most likely represent different vascular diseases.