Cholesterol embolization: a complication of angiography

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Abstract
Cholesterol embolization is not widely recognized as a complication of major arteriographic procedures. In a retrospective study of 71 autopsies of patients who underwent diagnostic arteriographic procedures (20 with aortograms, 51 with cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography), an incidence of cholesterol embolization of 30% and 25.5%, respectively was found, in comparison with 4.3% in an age and disease-matched control population. The organs most frequently affected are the kidney and spleen following aortogram, and the myocardium following cardiac catheterization. The clinical importance of these findings cannot be ascertained from this study, but experience with a single case demonstrates that radiographic studies may produce substantial morbidity.