title: The Kidney Biopsy in Lupus Nephritis: Past, Present, and Future.
abstract: Since its incorporation into clinical practice in the 1950s, the percutaneous kidney biopsy has played an important role in advancing our understanding of lupus nephritis (LN). The biopsy findings have been used to classify and subgroup LN in order to obtain an accurate diagnosis and also to inform treatment decisions and predict prognosis. Several classifications schemes have been applied clinically however despite this evolution in histopathologic classification, our ability to predict treatment response and determine prognosis remains limited. In this review we will examine the evolving role of the kidney biopsy in the management of LN, including the potentially larger role the biopsy could play in the future.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio.
authors.forename: Samir V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Parikh
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alvarado
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Unit, Hospital Fernandez, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malvar
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio. Electronic address: Rovin.1@osu.edu.
authors.forename: Brad H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Rovin
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000639:trends*; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000473:pathology*; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis
keywords: Lupus nephritis; kidney biopsy; systemic lupus erythematosus