[Clinicopathological study on IgA nephritis]

Clinicopathological study on IgA nephritis was carried out in order to clarify the factors to promote the progression of the disease. Total 118 cases of IgA nephritis confirmed with renal histology of the biopsied tissue were followed up in our kidney center at least two years following the biopsy. As a result, histological changes tended to be more severe in elder group at the time of biopsy and longer history of the disease. Renal function tended to be decreased in the cases with more proteinuria. Nephrotic syndrome seems to be one of the processes in which the disease is exacerbated. In addition, 21 cases with rather progressive courses following the biopsy revealed poor control of blood pressure, frequent upper respiratory infection, and more physical activities on their lives, which appear to be the risk factors. Clinical symptoms such as hematuria and proteinuria and histological changes were significantly more severe in the cases with IgA depositions spreading into the glomerular basement membrane, as compared to the ordinary cases with IgA depositions, limited in the mesangium. These results suggested that IgA depositions in glomerular basement membrane might be also one of the poor prognostic factors.