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Approach to Renal Biopsy

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Glomerulonephritis

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Abstract

The percutaneous kidney biopsy has transformed both the fields of nephrology and pathology. Prior to its introduction in the 1950s, analysis of kidney tissue was available only from deceased autopsy specimens. Advances in technology, technique, and imaging have led to both an improvement in tissue yield in addition to lower morbidity from complications. The kidney biopsy is currently the diagnostic gold standard for nearly all kidney diseases. Although a thorough history and physical in addition to basic serum and urine studies can aid the clinician, the biopsy is oftentimes the next necessary step to confirm a specific diagnosis. Direct sampling of kidney tissue also adds significant prognostic value and can guide management strategies for a variety of disease states. This chapter will outline the history of the renal biopsy, review tissue adequacy and staining, provide an overview of techniques for native and transplant kidneys along with the associated complications, and discuss future directions and possibilities with this procedure.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Timothy Yau

Authors
  1. Timothy Yau
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Correspondence to Timothy Yau .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, NYU Langone Medical Center, New York, New York, USA

    Howard Trachtman

  2. Hospital of the Univ. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

    Jonathan J. Hogan

  3. Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA

    Leal Herlitz

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Yau, T. (2018). Approach to Renal Biopsy. In: Trachtman, H., Hogan, J., Herlitz, L. (eds) Glomerulonephritis. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27334-1_1-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-27334-1_1-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-27334-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-27334-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

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