Abstract
Objective: To determine the indications, complications and the outcomes of the renal biopsies done in our center.
Methodology: It was a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study of the renal biopsies done at the Institute of Kidney Diseases, Peshawar, Pakistan from 2013 to 2015. Data were obtained by scanning all the relevant record of renal biopsies, patient charts, renal biopsy reports and history from the patients.
Results: A total record of 120 renal biopsies was included. The mean age was 28.2±9.6 year, 68.3% (n=82) patients were male and 31.6% (n=38) were females. All samples were taken through percutaneous route using Tru-Cut needle under ultrasound guidance. The indication for renal biopsy was nephrotic syndrome in 56.6%, nephritic syndrome in 13.3%, kidney injury of unknown cause in 23.3% and asymptomatic hematuria and proteinuria in 6.6% patients. A total of 101 (84.1%) patients were classified as having primary renal disease. Of these, FSGS was the commonest variety (24.1%), followed by MN (19.1%), MPGN (15.8%) and IgA nephropathy (4.1%). Other varieties of Mesangial proliferative GN constituted 8.3% patients. Crescentic GN was found in 4.1% patients. Primary lesions of the tubulo-interstitial compartment constituted 4.9% patients.
Of the secondary lesions, lupus nephritis was the commonest lesion (7.5%) while the other lesions included amyloidosis myeloma cast nephropathy, diabetic nephropathy and HUS. Complications were noted in 16.6% patients. Localized pain at the site of biopsy was the commonest complication (7.5%) followed by mild hematuria. Severe complications of gross hematuria were rare (1.6%). None of the patients underwent any invasive procedures as a result of biopsy related complications and no deaths occurred.
CONCLUSION: The relative frequencies of different glomerular lesions in our patients were similar to those found by other authors. Nephrotic syndrome and its causes especially FSGS were the commonest findings on renal biopsy. Percutaneous ultrasound guided renal biopsy is a safe and effective technique for obtaining renal tissue.

Key words: Renal biopsy, nephrotic syndrome, nephritic syndrome