IgA nephropathy

This is a glomerulopathy that is present in 50% of children with recurrent episodes of macroscopic haematuria. It also occurs in young adults. It is more common in males.

Episodes of haematuria are often simultaneous with periods of viral infection and flank pain.

Histology reveals a focal proliferative glomerulonephritis with IgA, and in some cases IgG, C3 and properdin deposits in the mesangium.

It is very unusual for a child with this condition to go on to develop chronic renal failure. However chronic renal failure is more common in adults.

IgA nephropathy is less common in black people than in Asian or white populations (1).

IgA nephropathy-like kidney injury has been related to autoimmune diseases such as (1):

• Henoch-Schönlein purpura, chronic hepatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, dermatitis herpetiformis, and ankylosing spondylitis. IgA glomerular mesangial deposits are frequently detected in histological analyses in all these conditions

Reference:

1. Habas E, Ali E, Farfar K, Errayes M, Alfitori J, Habas E, Ghazouani H, Akbar R, Khan F, Al Dab A, Elzouki AN. IgA nephropathy pathogenesis and therapy: Review & updates. Medicine (Baltimore). 2022 Dec 2;101(48):e31219.