Glomerulonephritis in ankylosing spondylitis

There have been a few reports suggesting the association between glomerulonephritis (GN) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The reported glomerulonephritides include IgA nephropathy, mesangial proliferative GN and membranous nephropathy. From January 1983, through December 1984, we observed 5 cases of GN among 116 cases of definite AS. Three of them were IgA nephropathy. The other two were mesangial proliferative GN, with IgM deposit in one case and isolated C3 deposit in another. Microscopic hematuria was observed in all of them. The renal function and 24-hour urine protein excretion were all within normal limits. Serum IgA level increased in all but the case of mesangial proliferative GN with IgM deposit. All except one had the antigen of HLA-B27. Serum IgA level was determined in 78 cases (86 estimations) of AS. The mean value was 399.6 +/- 15.0 mg/dl (mean +/- SE) (normal range: 100-350 mg/dl). Fifty-four of them (63%) had a value higher than 350 mg/dl. The interrelationship of AS and IgA nephropathy was discussed.