1. The kidney biopsy is an effective, valuable, and safe procedure that provides insight into the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of patients with kidney disease.
2. A complete history, physical examination, and selected laboratory tests are important components of the pre–kidney biopsy evaluation.
3. The most common complication associated with a kidney biopsy is bleeding, though it is usually self-limited and rarely life threatening.
4. In patients with contraindications to the percutaneous approach, non-percutaneous methods should be considered when tissue is still required for diagnosis and treatment decisions.
