Dramatic response to corticosteroid therapy of nephrotic syndrome associated with IgA nephropathy

We report a dramatic response of the nephrotic syndrome to prednisolone therapy (2 mg per kg per day) in a 6-year-old boy with IgA nephropathy. He had developed massive proteinuria (22.1 gm per day) and microscopic hematuria shortly after an episode of tonsillitis. Renal biopsy two months after onset showed mild mesangial hypercellularity with typical mesangial deposition of IgA. Corticosteroid therapy resulted in a sharp cessation of proteinuria and complete resolution of the urinary abnormalities. We suggest that massive proteinuria associated with IgA nephropathy may be responsive to corticosteroid therapy when there are minimal glomerular changes.