Risks of kidney biopsy during pregnancy

What are the indications for and risks of kidney biopsy during pregnancy?

Indications for kidney biopsy during pregnancy include newly diagnosed lupus, unexplained acute kidney injury, and nephrotic syndrome severe enough to require treatment.

In most cases, biopsy can be postponed until the postpartum period.

Because of the increased kidney blood flow associated with pregnancy, the risk of bleeding is higher than in nonpregnant patients.

Packham and Fairly reported biopsies of 111 pregnant women with few complications during the first and second trimesters.

However, the complication rate is higher in smaller series. Biopsy should be postponed until after delivery unless management will be determined by biopsy results.

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