ANSWER: C

The kidney is the most common organ affected by cholesterol emboli in about 75% of the cases, followed by skin (35-70%), spleen (30-55%), lower gastrointestinal tract (18-48%), eyes (6-25%) and other organs such as brain, thyroid and adrenals (4-20%).

 

REFERENCES:

Fries C, Roos M, Gaspert A, Vogt P, Salomon F, Wüthrich RP, Vavricka SR, Fehr T.  Atheroembolic disease–a frequently missed diagnosis: results of a 12-year matched-pair autopsy study. Medicine (Baltimore). 2010 Mar;89(2):126-32. doi: 10.1097/MD.0b013e3181d5eb39.

Scolari, Francesco; Ravani, Pietro. Atheroembolic renal disease. The Lancet;  Vol. 375, Iss. 9726,  (May 8-May 14, 2010): 1650-60.

Scolari F, Tardanico R, Zani R, Pola A, Viola BF, Movilli E, Maiorca R. Cholesterol crystal embolism: A recognizable cause of renal disease. Am J Kidney Dis. 2000 Dec;36(6):1089-109.