Cholesterol Embolisation

Key points

• Cholesterol emboli may break off causing renal disease · seen more commonly in arteriopaths and abdominal aortic aneurysms
• Eosinophilia is seen in around 70% of cases
• Features: eosinophilia · purpura · renal failure · livedo reticularis
• Typical presentation: an arteriopath with fever/myalgia who develops a purple, cold toe with early ischaemia and a faint livedo reticularis rash