[The indications of renal biopsies and spectrum of renal diseases in five nephrological centers of Lithuania (a five-year study)]

Abstract

A retrospective study of 316 patients, who underwent renal biopsy, during the period of 1995-1999 in five nephrological centers of Lithuania. All renal biopsy materials were investigated in the State Center of Pathology. Male:female ratio was 204:112, the mean age 41.4 (SD 16.7) yrs., range 15-80. The main indications for renal biopsy were nephrotic syndrome (29.1%), hematuria and nonnephrotic proteinuria (27.8%). The leading type of kidney damage was primary glomerulonephritis--194 (69.3%), which was 2.4 times more frequent in males than in females. The dominant types of primary glomerulonephritis were IgA nephropathy--30.4%, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis--26.8%, membranous nephropathy--10.3% and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis--9.8%. Renal amyloidosis was found even in 8.6% of all renal biopsies.