Contrast induced nephropathy has to be differentiated from kidney injury due to atheroembolic disease

Atheroembolic renal disease is often overlooked as a cause of kidney injury. this diagnosis should be strongly considered in any patient with kidney damage and high risk factors for atherosclerotic disease. renal biopsy can be of diagnostic value and the nephropathologists should pay careful attention to vessels on such biopsies, as the lesions can be focal and can be missed.