Percutaneous Renal Biopsies in General Hospital Karlovac Between 2009 and 2020 - Our Results

Abstract

We analyse data of 60 patients submitted to renal biopsy in General Hospital Karlovac between 2009 and 2020. The biopsies were performed percutaneously under ultrasound guidance. Biopsy material was analysed by nephropathologists either in Clinical Hospital Dubrava or in University Hospital Centre Zagreb using light, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy. Indications for biopsies were nephrotic syndrome in 26 (43.3%) patients, nephritic syndrome in 12 (20.0%) patients, unclear renal failure in 12 (20.0%) patients and suspect rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis in 10 (16.7%) patients. Pathological diagnosis was made in 57 (95.0%) patients. The most common primary glomerulonephritis was IgA nephropathy diagnosed in 8 (13.3%) patients. Among secondary glomerular diseases, pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis was the most observed – in 12 patients (20.0%). The complications after the procedure were noticed in 5 (8.3%) patients (3 patients with perirenal bleeding and 2 patients with macroscopic haematuria). Microscopic haematuria was present in 20 (33.3%) patients. No complication required surgical treatment. Percutaneous renal biopsy under ultrasound guidance is a safe diagnostic procedure that can provide a definitive diagnosis as a requirement to introducing different (immunosuppressive) treatment.

Keywords

• Percutaneous renal biopsy
• Indications
• Complications
• Results