The effect of biopsy on therapy in renal disease.

In an effort to determine whether renal biopsy substantially altered patient treatment, 100 consecutive cases were reviewed. From a pathologic standpoint, 41 cases were considered "definitely" diagnostic, 36 were in the "probable" category, and the remaining 23 were "nondiagnostic." In 19 cases, a therapy change occurred on the basis of biopsy results. These patients all had significant proteinuria. No alteration in therapy took place in patients with acute or chronic renal failure or hematuria alone.