Mesangial IgA deposits indicate pathogenesis of anti-glomerular basement membrane disease

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease is characterized by crescentic glomerulonephritis with immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies to the non-collagenous (NC1) domain of α3(IV) collagen presenting along the GBM. The patient clinically manifests with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) with pulmonary hemorrhage (Goodpasture syndrome). In rare cases, other immunocomplexes of IgA or IgM are involved, but their specificities have not been determined. We report a rare case of a 31-year-old female who was diagnosed as having anti-GBM disease with extensive IgA deposits in the mesangium. This patient presented heavy hematuria, proteinuria with increasing creatinine, but no lung hemorrhage. Renal biopsy showed crescentic glomerulonephritis (type Ⅰ) with strong IgA (3+) as lump and branch shape. Therapies with pulse methylprednisolone, plasmapheresis and cyclophosphamide administration were less effective. This case is different from the present type Ⅰ crescentic glomerulonephritis and the specificity of IgA deposits may implicate the pathogenesis of anti-GBM disease.