Kidney biopsy in Jordan : complications and histopathological findings

Abstract EN

In this retrospective study, we reviewed the medical records, and histopathology findings of 191 patients who underwent renal biopsies at King Hussein Medical Center (KHMC) during a four-year period (1993-97).

All were performed using Tru-Cut needles under ultrasound guidance.

There were 119 males (62.3%) and 72 females (37.7%); the mean age was 29.1 years (range 5-76 years).

Side effects of the renal biopsies included pain at the site of he biopsy in 17 (8.9%), gross hematuria in six (3.1%) and hematuria requiring blood transfusion in one (0.5%) patient.

Nephrotic syndrome was the most common indication for biopsy followed by acute renal failure of unknown etiology.

Among the nephritic patients, minimal change disease and post-infectious glomerulonephritis (GN) were the commonest findings in children below the age of 15 years, membrano-proliferative GN ranked first in adults whole membranous GN and amyloidosis were more common in the elderly.

WE conclude that renal biopsy was associated with a n acceptably low rate of complications in our practice, and that the patterns of renal histology vary slightly from those reported from other countries