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World J Diabetes. Dec 15, 2013; 4(6): 245-255
Published online Dec 15, 2013. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v4.i6.245
Published online Dec 15, 2013. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v4.i6.245
Diabetic nephropathy: Is it time yet for routine kidney biopsy?
Maria L Gonzalez Suarez, Alessia Fornoni, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, United States
David B Thomas, Laura Barisoni, Department of Pathology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, United States
Author contributions: Gonzalez Suarez ML performed most of the literature search and wrote the manuscript; Fornoni A provided essential ideas on how to develop the subject for this manuscript, also provided references and edited the manuscript, and addressed the responses to reviewers’ concerns; Thomas DB and Barisoni L provided the DN images, also provided references in regards of nephropathology and contributed to the edition of the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Alessia Fornoni, MD, PhD, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, 1601 NW 12th Ave, Miami, FL 33136, United States. afornoni@med.miami.edu
Telephone: +1-305-2433583 Fax: +1-305-2434404
Received: July 15, 2013
Revised: November 2, 2013
Accepted: November 15, 2013
Published online: December 15, 2013
Revised: November 2, 2013
Accepted: November 15, 2013
Published online: December 15, 2013
Core Tip
Core tip: Diagnostic tests are useful to predict onset, progression and response to therapeutic interventions in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Renal biopsies help to classify renal diseases in three major groups associated with different prognostic features: diabetic nephropathy, non-diabetic nephropathy (NDRD), and a superimposed non-diabetic condition on underlying DN. Pathological renal damage is hard to predict only with clinical and laboratory findings. In patients with a higher degree of suspicion for NDRD, it is granted the need of a renal biopsy. For this reason, more studies are required to assess the routine use of kidney biopsies as a gold standard for diagnosis of diabetic nephropathy.