[IgA nephropathy with acute exacerbation of idiopathic interstitial pneumonia: an autopsy case]

A 73-year old man was admitted to the hospital because of dyspnea. His proteinuria was pointed out in 1981. He felt dyspnea after exertion and abnormal chest X-ray shadow was pointed out in 1984. He was admitted to our hospital for further examination for the first time in 1988. He was diagnosed as IgA nephropathy by renal biopsy, and idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) by transbronchial lung biopsy. Then steroid therapy was begun because of progression of renal dysfunction in November 1990. But thereafter dyspnea, hypoxia and fine diffuse reticulonodular shadow on chest X-ray film was exacerbated. And he died because of respiratory failure. In this case, progression of IgA nephropathy seemed associated with exacerbation of IIP.