Percutaneous needle biopsy of the kidney in cases of nephrotic syndrome

ABSTRACT

The present study dealt with the percutaneous needle biopsy specimens obtained from the kidneys of 50 patients presenting with nephrotic syndrome. Sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin as well as, others stained with periodic acid Schiff [PAS], periodic acid silver methenamine [PASM], Congo Red and Masson trichrome stain were examined by light microscopy. The special stains used helped in the recognition of the different histopathologic patterns underlying the nephrotic syndrome. A definite diagnosis could be reached in 36 [72%] cases of diffuse histopathological patterns underlying the nephrotic syndrome. A definite diagnosis could be reached in 36 [72%] cases only. These included 12 [33.3%] cases of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, six [16.6%] cases of diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis, five [11.1%] cases of membranous glomerulonephritis, two [5.6%] cases of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, while in 12 [33.3%] cases, an underlying systemic disease was detected, including amyloidosis, systemic lupus erythematosis and diabetes mellitus