Alternate Names: Kidney biopsy; Biopsy - kidney

How Performed: This test is done in the hospital. Blood and urine samples are taken just before the test. You will be expected to follow the instructions given during the test. You will be lying face down on a firm surface. Firm pillows or a rolled towel may be placed beneath the abdominal area to give support. The health care provider will examine your back and mark the biopsy site (usually the right side). A local anesthetic will be given to numb the skin at the biopsy site. A tiny incision is then made in the skin. You will be asked to take a deep breath, hold it, and remain still as the locating needle (a needle that is used to locate the proper location in the kidney) is inserted through the incision and into the kidney. You will then be asked to take several deep breaths to help verify the position of the needle. The locating needle depth is measure and then removed. The biopsy needle is inserted following the path of the locating needle. Again the position of the needle will be verified. The sample is taken and the needle is removed. Pressure is applied to the biopsy site to stop the bleeding, and a bandage is applied. You will remain in the hospital after the test and lie on your back for 12 to 24-hours.

How To Prepare: Inform the doctor of any drug allergies you may have, which medications you are taking, if you have bleeding problems, and if you are pregnant. You must sign a consent form. You may be restricted from food or fluid for 8 hours before the test.

Infants and children:
The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child’s age, interests, previous experience, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child’s age:

• infant test or procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)
• toddler test or procedure preparation (1 to 3 years)
• preschooler test or procedure preparation (3 to 6 years)
• schoolage test or procedure preparation (6 to 12 years)
• adolescent test or procedure preparation (12 to 18 years)

How It Feels: When the local anesthetic is injected, there will be a prick and a mild stinging. As the biopsy is done, there will be an aching feeling. After the test there may be muscle soreness. You may see bright red blood in the urine the first 24-hours after the test. If the bleeding lasts longer, inform the health care provider.

Risks: There is a very slight chance of infection. There can be bleeding into the muscle, which might cause soreness.

Why Performed: The test is sometimes used to evaluate a transplanted kidney. It is also used to evaluate an unexplained decreased kidney function, persistent blood in the urine, or protein in the urine.

Normal Values: The kidney tissue shows normal structure.

Abnormal Results: The test may show some scarring caused by infection, poor blood flow through the kidney, or signs of systemic lupus erythematosus (a disease that causes inflammation in the connective tissues) that may be affecting the kidney. There may be signs of transplant rejection.

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:

• acute nephritic syndrome
• acute tubular necrosis
• Alport syndrome
• atheroembolic renal disease
• chronic glomerulonephritis
• complicated UTI (pyelonephritis)
• diabetic nephropathy/Sclerosis
• focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
• Goodpasture’s syndrome
• IgA nephropathy (Berger’s disease)
• interstitial nephritis
• lupus nephritis
• medullary cystic disease
• membranoproliferative GN I
• membranoproliferative GN II
• membranous nephropathy
• minimal change disease
• nephrotic syndrome
• post-streptococcal GN
• pyelonephritis; acute
• rapidly progressive (crescentic) glomerulonephritis

Cost:

Special Considerations: For 2 weeks after the test, avoid strenuous activities. Sometimes a repeat biopsy is needed.