Beyond the microscope: interpreting renal biopsy findings in the era of precision medicine

As rapid progress in science and biotechnology is affecting the practice of renal medicine, increasingly precise diagnostic assessment is needed to select the most effective therapeutic approach for individual patients. The kidney biopsy remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of renal disease, but the field of renal pathology is evolving, classification of renal parenchyma lesions and histopathological diagnostic criteria are undergoing more validation and updates, and new technologies and assays are sought to improve efficiency and accuracy of the diagnostic process. How new knowledge and scientific advances may potentially affect renal pathology is discussed.