Kidney biopsy

A kidney biopsy is done in the hospital. The two most common ways to do a kidney biopsy are percutaneous and open. These are described below. Percutaneous biopsy. Percutaneous means through the skin. Most kidney biopsies are done this way. The procedure is usually done in the following way: You may receive medicine to…

Tell your provider: About medicines you are taking, including vitamins and supplements, herbal remedies, and over-the-counter medicines If you have any allergies If you have bleeding problems or if you take blood-thinning medicines such as warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel (Plavix), dipyridamole (Persantine),…

Numbing medicine is used, so the pain during the procedure is often slight. The numbing medicine may burn or sting when first injected. After the procedure, the area may feel tender or sore for a few days. You may see bright, red blood in your urine during the first 24 hours after the test. If the bleeding lasts…

Your provider may order a kidney biopsy if you have: An unexplained drop in kidney function Blood in the urine that does not go away Protein in the urine found during a urine test A transplanted kidney, which needs to be monitored using a biopsy

A normal result is when the kidney tissue shows normal structure.

An abnormal result means there are changes in the kidney tissue. This may be due to: Infection Poor blood flow through the kidney Connective tissue diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus Other diseases that may be affecting the kidney, such as diabetes Kidney transplant rejection , if you had a transplant

Risks include: Bleeding from the kidney (in rare cases, may require a blood transfusion) Bleeding into the muscle, which might cause soreness Infection (small risk)

Salama AD, Cook HT. The renal biopsy. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Karl S, Philip AM, Taal MW, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney . 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 26. Topham PS, MacGinley. Kidney biopsy. In: Johnson RJ, Floege J, Tonelli M, eds. Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology .…