Atheroembolic renal disease (AERD), also known as cholesterol atheroembolic renal disease or cholesterol embolism, is a serious condition characterized by the sudden occlusion of small renal arteries by cholesterol crystals that originate from ruptured atherosclerotic plaques elsewhere in the body, typically in large arteries such as the aorta. These cholesterol emboli can dislodge and travel through the bloodstream until they become lodged in the smaller arteries of the kidneys, causing obstruction and subsequent damage. The condition often presents as acute kidney injury, with symptoms ranging from mild impairment to severe renal failure. Patients may experience nonspecific symptoms such as flank pain, hypertension, acute decline in kidney function, or signs of systemic inflammation like eosinophilia. Diagnosis of AERD can be challenging due to its variable presentation and the need to exclude other causes of renal impairment. Imaging studies such as Doppler ultrasound or angiography may reveal characteristic findings such as a “string of beads” appearance due to arterial wall damage from emboli.Participants in this activity gain a deeper understanding of the condition’s pathophysiology, clinical presentation, and diagnostic challenges. They acquire knowledge on how cholesterol emboli from atherosclerotic plaques can lead to renal artery occlusion and subsequent acute kidney injury. Learners also grasp the importance of clinical suspicion in cases presenting with nonspecific symptoms, prompting consideration of AERD as a differential diagnosis. Moreover, participants in the activity enhance their skills in interdisciplinary collaboration, recognizing the pivotal role of various healthcare professionals—such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and public health experts—in optimizing patient outcomes. Collaborative efforts enable comprehensive patient assessment, timely diagnostic interventions (such as imaging studies), and the implementation of multifaceted management strategies aimed at preventing further embolic events and preserving renal function.
- Provider:StatPearls, LLC
- Activity Link: https://www.statpearls.com/ArticleLibrary/viewarticle/17941
- Start Date: 2023-09-01 05:00:00
- End Date: 2023-09-01 05:00:00
- Credit Details: IPCE Credits: 1.0 hours
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™️: 1.0 hours
Nursing: 1.0 hours
Pharmacy: 1.0 hours - MOC Credit Details: ABS - 1.0 Point; Credit Type(s): Accredited CME (ABS)
ABPATH - 1.0 Point; Credit Type(s): Lifelong Learning (ABPATH)
ABA - 1.0 Point; Credit Type(s): Lifelong Learning (ABA)
ABIM - 1.0 Point; Credit Type(s): Medical Knowledge (ABIM)
ABS - 1.0 Point; Credit Type(s): Self-Assessment (ABS)
ABP - 1.0 Point; Credit Type(s): Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment (ABP) - Commercial Support: No
- Activity Type: Enduring Material
- CME Finder Type: Online Learning
- Fee to Participate: Variable
- Measured Outcome: Learner Knowledge, Learner/Team Competence
- Provider Ship: Directly Provided
- Registration: Open to all
- Specialty: Adolescent Medicine, Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology, Ambulatory/Outpatient, Cardiovascular, Cardiovascular Disease, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, Critical Care Medicine, Cytopathology, General Operative Anesthesia, General Pediatrics, General Surgery, Geriatric Medicine, Hospital Medicine, Internal Medicine, Interventional Cardiology, Nephrology, Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Pediatric Nephrology, Renal/Medical Renal, Surgical Critical Care, Vascular Surgery