Approach to Kidney Biopsy: Core Curriculum 2022

Abstract

The kidney biopsy is an essential tool for diagnosis of many kidney diseases. Obtaining an adequate biopsy sample with appropriate allocation for various studies is essential. Nephrologists should understand key lesions and their interpretation because these are essential elements underlying optimal approaches for interventions. This installment in the AJKD Core Curriculum in Nephrology will review these topics. We will first briefly discuss considerations for allocation and processing of kidney biopsies. We will then present in outline form the differential diagnoses of a spectrum of patterns of injury and consideration for interpretation of specific lesions. Lesions are presented according to anatomic site as glomerular, vascular, or tubulointerstitial. Native and transplant kidney biopsy lesions are included. These lesions and differential diagnoses and specific diseases are then linked to detailed clinicopathologic discussion of specific diseases presented in the AJKD Atlas of Kidney Pathology II. Correlation with immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, and clinical findings are emphasized to reach a differential diagnosis and the final diagnosis.

Keywords: Electron microscopy (EM); glomerular lesion; immunofluorescence (IF); immunohistochemistry (IHC); kidney biopsy; light microscopy; renal lesion; renal pathology; review; tubulointerstitial lesion; vascular lesion.