PERCUTANEOUS NEEDLE-BIOPSY OF THE RENAL-ALLOGRAFT USING THE AUTOMATEDNEEDLE SYSTEM - EVALUATION OF 87 PROCEDURES

Between April 1991 and February 1992 we obtained 87 percutaneous core needle biopsy specimens from 60 patients with the automatic biopsy gun . In 78 cases (89.7%) enough renal tissue was obtained for histologica l analysis. Acute rejection was present on 35 biopsies (40.3%) indicat ing antirejection therapy. No pathological signs of rejection were det ected on 43 biopsies (49.4%). In 38 instances (43.7%) biopsy diagnosis differed from clinical presumptive diagnosis, affecting patient manag ement, while in the remainder it was helpful to confirm clinical impre ssions. The only complication of the procedure was gross hematuria (re quiring vesical irrigation in 1 patient). Due to its simplicity and lo w morbidity rate, renal biopsy with the automated needle system is the procedure of choice for evaluation and management of renal allograft dysfunction.