To report a case of renal infarction ina patient on anticoagulant therapy for aortic and tricuspidvalvulopathy, with special reference to the diagnostic difficulty.METHODS: The most common causes of this condition, its formsof presentation, diagnostic methods, and therapeutic approachesare discussed.RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Renal infarction should be suspectedin the presence of abdominal pain of sudden onset that is refractoryto treatment with analgesics, especially in patients with a history ofembolism, recent surgery or trauma. It is frequent to find increasedlevels of SGOT, SGPT, LDH, alkaline phosphatase and micro orgross hematuria and proteinuria. Arteriography or isotopic renogramis utilized to confirm the diagnosis, although IVP or CT is useful if theforegoing are not available. Early treatment is important for achievingrecovery of the compromised renal parenchyma. In recent years,surgery has been displaced by the good results obtained withintraarterial infusion of fibrinolytics.