The many manifestations of atheroembolism are apparent in all specialties. However, with increasing intervention in older patients with atherosclerotic disease, it has become an important renal clinical problem. Atheroembolic disease is widely recognized as a cause of acute catastrophic renal dysfunction and recent important data have suggested that effective management protocols can improve outcome. It is probable that the clinical course is insidious in the majority of patients with severe atherosclerotic aortic disease. The management of these patients is less clear and at present rests on small anecdotal reports.