[The evaluation of electron microscopy in the pathological diagnosis of renal biopsies].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the use of electron microscopy(EM) in pathological diagnosis of renal biopsies.

METHOD: 777 cases of renal biopsy in Department of Nephrology, First Hospital of Beijing Medical University from Jan 1995 to Jun 1997 were studied. We compared the preliminary diagnosis by light microscopy(LM) and immuno-fluorescence(IF) with the final diagnosis by electron microscopy(EM). The use of EM in the diagnosis was divided into three parts. EM was needed to make a correct final diagnosis, provided confirmatory data or additional information relevant to the diagnosis and was complementary to LM and IF.

RESULTS

Among 777 cases of renal biopsy, EM was needed to make a correct final diagnosis in 18.5%, and provided important referential information in 13.5%.

CONCLUSION

EM provided useful diagnostic information in about one third cases of renal biopsy.