Q: I am a 29 years old male, diabetic for the last 20 years. My urine analysis shows presence of +2 albumin in urine. My kidney scan report has come out normal and blood urea and creatinine levels are also normal. I have no retinopathy and also my 24 urine albumin is 1100 mg. After month of taking Telminorm 20mg and Ramace 2.5 mg, the 24 urine albumin has come down to 400 mg. But the urine albumin is still 2+. The doctor has asked me to get a kidney biopsy done. Is it safe to get it done?

A:Presence of persistent protein leakage in the urine after initial evaluation by your Nephrologist is an indication for kidney biopsy. It is a safe procedure performed with ultrasound guidance using local anaesthetic agent to numb the area around the point of needle insertion overlying the scanned kidney. Complications are extremely rare, commonest being bleeding post-procedure which can present in the form of discoloration of urine (hematuria, blood in urine) subsiding over few hours. You would be advised bed rest post biopsy for at least 12 hours while avoid lifting heavy objects.