Epidemiology of kidney biopsy from regional referral center in Romania: 10-year review

Purpose

To provide epidemiologic data on kidney biopsy from Romania.

Methods

Retrospective observational study of kidney biopsy records for adult patients from a referral center in the north-western part of Romania, reported for 2014–2023.

Results

556 biopsies were performed, corresponding to an incidence of 12 biopsies/m person-year with over 50% increase over the last reported year. Optimal core for optic microscopy was available in 81.4%, immunofluorescence was performed in 86.3%, and electron microscopy in 35.2% of patients. The mean age at biopsy was 47.12 years, and 53.8% were males. Indications for kidney biopsy were nephrotic syndrome in 63.1% of patients, nephritic in 25.9% of patients, asymptomatic urinary abnormalities in 2.9%, acute kidney injury/ rapid progressive renal failure in 3.6%, and chronic kidney disease in 1.4%. The most frequent diagnostic categories were membranous nephritis (14.7%), IgA nephropathy (13.9%), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (11,1%), minimal change disease (12,2%), lupus nephritis (10,9%), vasculitis (7.6%), and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (8%).

The age of diagnosis increased for IgA Nephropathy over time while it decreased for membranous nephritis.

Conclusions

Our study adds data for the completion of the kidney biopsy map in our region.