Renal biopsy: ten years' experience of the pediatric nephrology unit of Alexandria university

ABSTRACT

Analysis of 147 pediatric renal biopsies was done to review the local pattern of renal diseases in Alexandria University and to assess the safety and diagnostic efficacy of the procedure. Glomerular diseases represented 90.5% of biopsied kidneys. Nephrotic syndrome was the most frequent presentation requiring renal biopsy [57%] followed by acute renal failure [23.8%]. Diffuse mesangial proliferation was the most frequent pathological diagnosis among nephrotic patients [33.3%] followed by membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis [21.4%] and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis [16.6%]. Minimal change nephrotic syndrome was noticed in only 7%. Also, rapidly progressive crescentic glomerulonephritis was the most common pathological diagnosis among patients presenting with acute renal failure [13.6%] followed by hemolytic uremic syndrome [4.7%]. No severe clinical complications related to the biopsies were. observed. Also, 94.5% of biopsies were considered adequate for histopathological analysis. In conclusion, renal biopsy is a valuable diagnostic tool in the diagnosis and management of glomerular diseases in children