Renal biopsy

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Kidney anatomy

Kidney - blood and urine flow

Renal biopsy

Kidney biopsy; Biopsy - kidney

A normal value 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, or other diseases that may be affecting the kidney.

For transplant patients, an abnormal kidney biopsy may be a sign 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 urinary tract infection
• Diabetic nephropathy
• Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
• Goodpasture syndrome
• IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease)
• Interstitial nephritis
• Lupus nephritis
• Medullary cystic kidney disease
• Membranoproliferative GN I
• Membranoproliferative GN II
• Membranous nephropathy
• Minimal change disease
• Nephrotic syndrome
• Post-streptococcal GN
• Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis

Review Date: 12/21/2009
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; Scott Miller, MD, Urologist in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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