IgA nephropathy with complement deficiency

Intern Med. 2001 Jan;40(1):52-5. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.40.52.

Abstract

We treated a female patient suffering from immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy and congenital deficiency of the ninth component of the complement system (C9). She was admitted with hematuria and proteinuria, and the C9 deficiency was diagnosed based on the low hemolytic activity of 50 % of the hemolytic unit of the complements (CH50) and the normal C3 level in the plasma. Renal biopsy revealed mild mesangial proliferation, and immunofluorescence examination revealed mild mesangial deposits of IgA and C3 with the same distribution. We discuss the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy and the role of the complements in its progression.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Complement System Proteins / deficiency*
  • Female
  • Glomerular Mesangium / chemistry
  • Glomerular Mesangium / pathology
  • Glomerulonephritis, IGA / blood
  • Glomerulonephritis, IGA / complications*
  • Glomerulonephritis, IGA / pathology
  • Hematuria / etiology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin A / analysis
  • Proteinuria / etiology

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin A
  • Complement System Proteins