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Unit Code 8104:
Renal Biopsy, Immunohistology

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Useful For

The evaluation of patients with undiagnosed kidney disease

 

Following the course of therapy or progression of disease

 

Diagnosing disease cause by immune mechanisms

Clinical Information

Kidney biopsy has proven to be of value in the clinical evaluation

and management of patients with undiagnosed kidney disease.

The clinical setting may include acute renal failure, nephorotic

syndrome, asymptomatic proteinuria and hematuria. Kidney diseases

in the setting of a systemic disease are often diagnosed on kidney

biopsy.

 

Biopsy of the transplanted kidney is important in the determination

of the presence of acute rejection, infection, or recurrent disease.

 

Optimal interpretation of a kidney biopsy requires integration

of clinical and laboratory results with light microscopic,

immunofluorescent histology, and electron microscopy findings.

 

Immunoflourescent histology is necessary in the diagnosis of

immune complex mediated disease such and IgA nephropathy,

membranous nephropathy, and post-infectious glomerulonephritis;

for evaluation of light-chain related disease such as amyloidosis,

light-chain deposition disease, and light-chain cast nephropathy,

and other immune-mediated diseases such as Goodpasture's

disease and lupus nephritis.

Reference Values

The laboratory will provide an interpretive report.

Interpretation

A written report is issued upon completion of immunohistologic

examination. If material is also submitted for light microscopy, the

immunohistologic report will be incorporated with the light microscopic

findings and a written report will be issued.

Cautions

Accurate and timely interpretation of a kidney biopsy requires

integration of light microscopic, immunofluorescent histology, and

electron microscopic findings with clinical and laboratory data

Special Instructions and Forms

• Renal Biopsy Patient Information Sheet 
• Renal Biopsy Procedures of Handling Tissue for Light Micropscopy, Immunohistology, and Electron Microscopy 

Clinical Reference

Velosa JA, Holley KE:  Pathology and immunopathology of renal

diseases.  In  Renal Function Tests: Clinical Laboratory Procedures

and Disorders. Edited by CG Duarte. Boston, MA, Little, Brown, and

Company, 1980, pp 347-385

Key