Is a biopsy really necessary?

April 26, 2004

I have been a member of this group for several months now and am very

thankful for all the information and situations that everyone shares.

This is my first posting to this group as now my neph is recommending

I have a biopsy done to determine if I have igan.

I am somewhat relutant to have this procedure done in part because it

will have no affect on what my neph is already doing for my symptoms

and from doing my own research that all that really can be done after

a diagnosis is the treatments that I am currently on.

I am a 32 year old male taking avapro for high blood pressure,

accupril to lower my protein loss, and fish oil pills. I currently

lose 1200 mg of protein a day, have micro hematuria and I am not

losing any creatnine.

I thank all the members of this site for there information and I hope

everything works out for all. I value your input on my opinion on

whether a biopsy is necessary.

April 27, 2004

Hi,

Thanks for posting! It's always good to hear from lurkers. I'm sorry you

have reason to be here, but glad you found your way to the site. When were

your diagnosed? What is your current creatinine?

The question whether to biopsy/how often to biopsy question arises a lot.

The responses to it vary include (1) once, for diagnostic purposes only and

never again, (2) whenever there is a signifigant change in therapy or

unexplained change in status, and (3) a some reasonable fixed interval. I

hear you when you say ed " I am somewhat relutant to have this procedure

done in part because it will have no affect on what my neph is already

doing " . Much of the treatment for kidney diseases does look all alike

(which is why I'm comfortable here even through my son does not have IgAN).

However, there is very useful information that can be gleaned from a biopsy

report. In some ways, it can serve as a window on the future. For example,

if there are crescents, I would think differently about my disease than if

there weren't. Even if the treatments are the same, having biopsy

information helps you research your disease more effectively. For example,

if there was evidence of IgM deposition, I might focus on certain aspects of

the literature closer than I'd otherwise be inclined. I think it helps you

know more about the disease - and hence better able to make good decisions.

Cy

Is a biopsy really necessary?

> I have been a member of this group for several months now and am very

> thankful for all the information and situations that everyone shares.

> This is my first posting to this group as now my neph is recommending

> I have a biopsy done to determine if I have igan.

>

> I am somewhat relutant to have this procedure done in part because it

> will have no affect on what my neph is already doing for my symptoms

> and from doing my own research that all that really can be done after

> a diagnosis is the treatments that I am currently on.

>

> I am a 32 year old male taking avapro for high blood pressure,

> accupril to lower my protein loss, and fish oil pills. I currently

> lose 1200 mg of protein a day, have micro hematuria and I am not

> losing any creatnine.

>

> I thank all the members of this site for there information and I hope

> everything works out for all. I value your input on my opinion on

> whether a biopsy is necessary.

>

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>

April 27, 2004