Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41831140›Full record

ReviewInternational urology and nephrology2026

How to perform a renal transplant biopsy: a practical guide for clinicians with CEUS-driven diagnosis and follow-up of complications.

Antonio Granata, Rosario Maccarrone, Distefano Giulio, Leonardo Spatola, Salvatore Granata, Massimiliano Veroux, Antonio Bellasi, Yuri Battaglia, Matthias Zeiler, Integrated Imaging and Interventional Nephrology Working Group of the Italian Society of Nephrology (SIN) and of the Italian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (SIUMB)

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in International urology and nephrology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Antonio GranataNephrology and Dialysis Unit, "Cannizzaro" Emergency Hospital, Via Messina 829, 95026, Catania, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7026-3952
Rosario MaccarroneNephrology and Dialysis Unit, "Cannizzaro" Emergency Hospital, Via Messina 829, 95026, Catania, Italy. rosario.maccarrone88@gmail.com.
Distefano GiulioNephrology and Dialysis Unit, Maggiore Hospital of Modica, ASP Ragusa, Modica, RG, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0735-5720
Leonardo SpatolaNephrology and Dialysis Unit, "Sant'Antonio Abate" Hospital, Trapani, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8883-4776
Salvatore GranataDepartment of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-9391-8118
Massimiliano VerouxDepartment of Surgery, General Surgery and Organ Transplant Unit, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2780-6421
Antonio BellasiServizio Di Nefrologia, Ospedale Regionale Di Lugano, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Ospedale Civico, Via Tesserete 46, 6903, Lugano, Switzerland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7830-1645
Yuri BattagliaNephrology and Dialysis Unit, "Pederzoli" Hospital, Peschiera del Garda, VR, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3947-1814
Matthias ZeilerNephrology and Dialysis Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, "C. E G. Mazzoni" Hospital, Ascoli Piceno, Italy.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6066-6144
Integrated Imaging and Interventional Nephrology Working Group of the Italian Society of Nephrology (SIN) and of the Italian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (SIUMB)

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Percutaneous ultrasound-guided kidney biopsy remains the reference standard for diagnosing renal allograft dysfunction and for tailoring immunosuppression. Although major complications are uncommon in experienced hands, bleeding-related events and post-biopsy vascular lesions require a rapid, operational imaging and follow-up strategy. This practical guide provides a step-by-step, competency-based workflow for renal transplant biopsy-from indication setting and risk optimisation to room set-up, equipment selection, safe cortical targeting, and specimen adequacy criteria-followed by structured post-biopsy monitoring and discharge counselling. In this study, we will be conducting a comparative analysis of percutaneous, transvenous, and CT-guided approaches. Furthermore, we will be summarising pragmatic thresholds for blood pressure, coagulation parameters, and periprocedural antithrombotic management. A dedicated section integrates contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) into complication triage when grayscale ultrasound and Doppler are equivocal, defining practical triggers for escalation and follow-up pathways for haematoma, pseudoaneurysm, arteriovenous fistula, and segmental perfusion defects. The translation of imaging findings into actionable clinical decisions, facilitated by a protocolised biopsy technique in conjunction with CEUS-driven problem solving, has been demonstrated to enhance diagnostic confidence and improve safety in routine transplant care.

Indexed as

Image-Guided BiopsyKidneyKidney TransplantationPostoperative ComplicationsUltrasonography, InterventionalContrast MediaHumansUltrasonographyContrast MediaComplicationContrast-enhanced ultrasoundGraft dysfunctionKidney transplantationPercutaneous biopsyUltrasound

Identifiers

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.