Clinical Spectrum and Epidemiology of Renal Diseases: Insights from Renal Biopsy: A Single Hospital Study

Abstract

Introduction: Diagnosis of renal diseases through renal biopsy exhibits variability influenced by factors such as geographical location, ethnicity, age, gender and observer subjectivity. Aims: This study aimed to ascertain the frequency and distribution of various renal diseases diagnosed via renal biopsy at a tertiary care hospital in Lucknow, India. Materials and Methods: The study enrolled 187 patients who underwent renal biopsy between January 2020 and January 2023. Biopsies were conducted using percutaneous ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy, yielding two renal biopsy cores per patient. Results: The mean age of the patients was 35.7±16.8 years with a male predominance of 2.46:1. Primary glomerular diseases constituted 61.5% of cases, with IgA nephropathy as the most prevalent (21.4%), followed by focal and segmental glomerulonephritis (13.9%). Secondary glomerular diseases comprised 12.3% of cases with diabetic nephropathy being the most frequent (4.8%). Conclusion: The findings underscore the regional variability in renal disease patterns and highlight the crucial role of renal biopsy in accurate diagnosis and treatment decision-making. Further research is warranted to validate these observations and establish a national renal biopsy registry in India.