Epidemiology of Glomerular Diseases and Biopsy Sample Quality: Nephrology vs. Interventional Radiology (IR) at a Secondary Hospital in Mexico City

Background: Glomerular diseases represent a diverse group of conditions affecting the glomerulus and adjacent structures through various primary or secondary mechanisms. Kidney biopsy remains the diagnostic gold standard, allowing identification of key histopathological changes. This study analyzes the epidemiology in a secondary-level hospital and compares sample quality between nephrology and interventional radiology services. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted on patients who underwent percutaneous kidney biopsy at a secondary-level hospital in Mexico City between January 2017 and December 2024. Clinical and demographic data were collected, including age, sex, and presumptive diagnosis, as well as procedural variables such as sample quality, histopathological findings, and the performing service (nephrology or interventional radiology). Results: The mean age was 39.9 ± 13.8 years in the IR group and 38.9 ± 15.2 years in the NEPH group, with no statistically significant difference (p = 0.672). The proportion of males was 54.5% in IR compared to 37.0% in NEPH (p = 0.180). The average number of cores was higher in the IR group (1.73 ± 0.67) compared to NEPH (1.37 ± 0.49), showing a statistically significant difference (p = 0.037). The number of glomeruli was similar between groups (IR: 15.4 ± 7.0; NEPH: 15.1 ± 7.6), with no significant difference (p = 0.958). Optimal samples were obtained in 90.9% of IR cases and 81.5% of NEPH cases (p = 0.289). The most frequent diagnoses were lupus nephritis (11.7%), IgA nephropathy (8.3%), and membranous nephropathy (8.3%). Conclusion: A high proportion of optimal percutaneous kidney biopsy samples was obtained by both services, with no statistically significant differences in patient age, sex distribution, or number of glomeruli. The interventional radiology group yielded a greater number of cores per procedure. The most common diagnoses were lupus nephritis, IgA nephropathy, and membranous nephropathy.