HISTOPATHOLOGICAL PATTERN OF RENAL BIOPSIES AT TERTIARY CARE CENTER IN BALOCHISTAN

Abstract

Background

Renal biopsy is an important diagnostic procedure for determining the underlying pathology in patients presenting with proteinuria, nephrotic syndrome, nephritic syndrome, hematuria, acute kidney injury, and unexplained deterioration of renal function. Histopathological examination provides valuable information for differentiating glomerular, tubulointerstitial, and vascular renal diseases and assists clinicians in determining appropriate management and prognosis. The spectrum of biopsy-proven renal disease varies according to geographic region and population characteristics. However, limited information is available regarding the histopathological pattern of renal biopsies in Balochistan, Pakistan.

Objective

To determine the histopathological patterns and frequency of different renal diseases diagnosed on renal biopsy at a tertiary care center in Balochistan, Pakistan.

Methods

A retrospective observational study was conducted at Balochistan Institute of Nephro-Urology Quetta (BINUQ), Quetta. A total of 180 renal biopsy specimens from patients who underwent kidney biopsy during the study period were evaluated. Demographic characteristics, clinical indications for biopsy, and histopathological diagnoses were retrieved from medical and pathology records. Biopsy findings were categorized into primary glomerular diseases, secondary glomerular diseases, tubulointerstitial diseases, vascular lesions, and other pathological conditions. Histopathological diagnoses were established using available light microscopic and immunofluorescence findings. Descriptive statistics were used to determine frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations.

Results

Among the 180 renal biopsy specimens evaluated, 96 (53.3%) were from male patients and 84 (46.7%) were from female patients. The mean age of the study population was 35.8 ± 14.2 years. Nephrotic syndrome was the most frequent indication for renal biopsy, followed by unexplained renal dysfunction, nephritic syndrome, and persistent proteinuria. Primary glomerular diseases constituted the largest diagnostic category, followed by secondary glomerular and tubulointerstitial diseases. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, IgA nephropathy, membranous nephropathy, and minimal change disease were among the commonly identified primary glomerular lesions, while lupus nephritis represented the predominant secondary glomerular disease.

Conclusion

The study demonstrated a broad histopathological spectrum of renal diseases among patients undergoing renal biopsy at a tertiary care center in Balochistan. Primary glomerular diseases represented the predominant category, with several important clinicopathological patterns identified. Establishing regional renal biopsy data may improve understanding of local disease patterns and support timely diagnosis and appropriate management of kidney disease in Balochistan