Mesangial IgA glomerulonephritis in adults. Clinical and histopathological observations

This report evaluates 29 patients with IgA glomerulonephritis. Patients with the least intensity of immunofluorescent staining for IgA had the highest glomerular filtration rate. The pattern or intensity of the staining gave little or no indication of the severity of the morphological changes or of the short-term prognosis. Histological changes with increased amounts of adherences were found in a significantly higher proportion of kidneys with decreased function. Older patients had a longer history and a higher incidence of low renal function, and they showed more glomerular adherences and global fibrosis than younger patients.