Immunothrombocytopenia and IgA nephritis

A 32 year old female patient demonstrates the rare combination of a typical IgA nephritis and familial immunothrombocytopenia. Although this association may be purely fortuitous, our observation adds a new facet to a spectrum of reports on (familial) "thromborenal syndromes". The pathogenesis of the IgA nephritis has not yet been clarified. However, since IgA deposits are found relatively frequently in the mesangium in a number of diverse underlying diseases, there might be common etiological factors. In view of this possibility more attention should be directed to the investigation of IgA associated diseases.