Why it's done

A kidney biopsy may be done to:

• Diagnose a kidney problem that can't otherwise be identified
• Help develop treatment plans based on the kidney's condition
• Determine how quickly kidney disease is progressing
• Determine the extent of damage from kidney disease or another disease
• Evaluate how well treatment for kidney disease is working
• Monitor the health of a transplanted kidney or find out why a transplanted kidney isn't working properly

Your doctor may recommend a kidney biopsy based on the results of blood or urine tests that show:

• Blood in the urine originating from the kidney
• Protein in the urine (proteinuria) that's excessive, rising or accompanied by other signs of kidney disease
• Problems with kidney function, leading to excessive waste products in the blood

Not everyone with these problems needs a kidney biopsy. The decision is based on your signs and symptoms, test results, and overall health.