Age-related character of glomerular lesions in IgA nephritis

In relation to the phenomenon in which IgA nephritis is carried over from childhood to an adult age, pathohistological analysis was performed to elucidate the age-related character of the expression of the disease based on renal biopsy specimens from different age groups. A significant difference in the glomerular lesions was noted between the age groups under 15 yrs (15 +/- 2.1 yrs) and over 18 yrs. In the younger age group, the disease became manifest with lesser glomerular sclerosis and segmental lesions, whereas mesangial proliferative and sclerosing lesions were evident with increasing segmental lesions in the adult-onset disease. It is suggested that some of the childhood cases of IgA nephritis with progressive mesangial sclerosis could be carried over to an adult age.