Renal biopsy practice in France: results of a nationwide study.
BACKGROUND
Although several risk factors associated with complications after renal biopsy (RB) have been identified, the gold standard for RB procedures remains to be defined. Practices vary widely among nephrologists, depending on personal experience and the availability of particular techniques. The purpose of our study was to depict the main aspects of the practice of RB in adults in France.


METHODS
Members of the Société de Néphrologie in France were asked to participate in a questionnaire survey on RB procedures.


RESULTS
Eighty-eight nephrologists from 74 units (27 in teaching hospitals, 35 in public general hospitals and 12 in private centres) participated in our study. Native kidney and graft biopsies were performed in 73 and 35 units, respectively. RB activity was highly variable among units, ranging from several hundred to <10 per year. Transjugular renal biopsy was judged to be smoothly accessible in 28 out of 73 units (38.4%). Significant variations in practices were observed regarding patient information before RB, assessment of haemorrhagic risk factors, management of patients with antiplatelet agents and haemorrhagic risk factors, and radiological guidance. Early discharge (<12 h) was the rule in 3 (4.1%) units for native kidney biopsies and in 10 (28.6%) units for graft biopsies.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study is the first to provide a representative picture of 'everyday' RB practices in a country. Important variations in procedures were observed. Our study may represent a preliminary step for the elaboration of guidelines for all aspects of RB practices.
Bollée
Guillaume
G
Paris Descartes University, APHP, Department of Nephrology and Transplantation, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris, France. gbollee@gmail.com
Martinez
Frank
F
Moulin
Bruno
B
Meulders
Quentin
Q
Rougier
Jean-Philippe
JP
Baumelou
Alain
A
Glotz
Denis
D
Subra
Jean-François
JF
Ulinski
Tim
T
Vrigneaud
Laurence
L
Brasseur
José
J
Martin
Laurent
L
Daniel
Laurent
L
Kourilsky
Olivier
O
Deteix
Patrice
P
Sie
Pierre
P
Ronco
Pierre
P
Houillier
Pascal
P
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005602:France; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D009398:Nephrology; D012307:Risk Factors