IgA nephropathy overview
|
IgA nephropathy Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
IgA nephropathy overview On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of IgA nephropathy overview |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for IgA nephropathy overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
IgA nephropathy is a form of glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the glomeruli of the kidney). This should not be confused with Buerger's disease, an unrelated condition.
IgA nephropathy is the most common glomerulonephritis throughout the world. Primary IgA nephropathy is characterized by deposition of the IgA antibody in the glomerulus. There are other diseases associated with glomerular IgA deposits, the most common being Henoch-Schönlein purpura, which is considered by many to be a systemic form of IgA nephropathy. Henoch-Schönlein purpura presents with a characteristic skin rash, occurs more commonly in young adults (16-35 yrs old) and is associated with a more benign prognosis than IgA nephropathy, which typically presents with hematuria in adults and may lead to chronic renal failure.