Renal biopsy

Renal Biopsy

A Renal biopsy (also known as a kidney biopsy) is a medical procedure that involves extracting kidney tissue for laboratory analysis. This diagnostic test helps identify the type and extent of kidney diseases. It can also monitor the effectiveness of kidney treatments and see if there are any complications following a kidney transplant.

Procedure

The procedure is usually performed by a nephrologist or an interventional radiologist. The patient is typically awake but sedated. The doctor uses imaging equipment, such as ultrasound or CT scan, to guide a biopsy needle into the kidney. The needle retrieves a small sample of kidney tissue, which is then sent to a lab for analysis.

Indications

A renal biopsy may be recommended for various reasons. These include unexplained proteinuria or hematuria, rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, unexplained acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease of unknown cause, and to assess the pathology of a transplanted kidney.

Risks and Complications

While a renal biopsy is generally safe, it does carry some risks. These can include bleeding, infection, and damage to the kidney. In rare cases, severe complications such as bleeding disorders or kidney failure can occur.

Aftercare

After the procedure, patients are usually monitored for several hours to ensure there are no immediate complications. They may experience some discomfort or pain at the biopsy site. Results from the biopsy are typically available within a few days.

See Also

• Nephrology
• Kidney disease
• Kidney transplant