Carbon dioxide angiography of the transplanted kidney: technical considerations and imaging findings.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the usefulness of carbon dioxide as the primary contrast material for renal transplant arteriography.

CONCLUSION: Carbon dioxide accurately showed artery pathology including anastomotic and intrarenal stenoses, arteriovenous shunting, and diffuse arterial disease from chronic transplant rejection. Using carbon dioxide as a contrast agent reduced the volume of iodinated contrast material that needed to be used. There was no procedure-associated nephrotoxicity.