[Automatic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy of the transplanted kidney. Risks and uses].

Renal allograft biopsy is very valuable in the assessment of graft dysfunction, but complications are frequent and graft loss has even been described. Between 1991 and 1993, a total of 133 graft biopsies were done. We used an automated biopsy gun with a fine-caliber core needle (diameter 1.2 mm) under ultrasound guidance. Histological diagnosis was possible in 95.5% of the biopsies. On average 5.5 glomerula per specimen were obtained. This method proved to be safe, surgical intervention becoming necessary in 2 cases (1.5%).