[Renal artery embolism treated with a continuous selective intra-arterial urokinase infusion therapy: a case report].

A 61-year-old man with left renal artery embolus was treated with a continuous selective intra-arterial urokinase (UK) infusion therapy. UK was administered through a 5 Fr. catheter embedded into the occlusive segment of the artery selectively. Continuous low dose UK (15,000 units/hour) was infused following short-term ultra-high dose UK (480,000 units/60 min) infusion. A complete recanalization of the occluded artery was observed by day 7 and also no serious complications were noted during the treatment. Thus, a continuous selective intra-arterial UK infusion therapy seemed to be more effective than conventional methods, especially in patients with complete obstruction.