Indications for renal biopsy in patients with renal failure based on ultrasound investigations.

Forty-seven patients including 18 with renal failure were studied. Kidney length, degree of cortical echogenicity, parenchymal thickness, visibility and dimensions of renal papillae, and existence of renal cysts were recorded during abdominal ultrasound investigations in all patients. Indications and contraindications for renal biopsy were determined. Ultrasound is a valuable method of easy evaluation of indications for renal biopsy in patients with renal failure. This method avoids the risks of postbiopsy complications, drug overdosage as well as additional X-ray exposures and scintigrams.