SEQUENTIAL OCCURRENCE OF IGA NEPHROPATHY AND HENOCH-SCHONLEIN PURPURA- SUPPORT FOR COMMON PATHOGENESIS

We report a patient who developed Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) 13 ye ars after he presented with IgA nephropathy (IgAN). In both HSP and Ig AN renal biopsy most commonly reveals focal proliferative glomerulonep hritis on light microscopy and immunofluorescence displays mesangial I gA deposits. In addition, patients with HSP or IgAN have elevated seru m IgA levels, circulating IEA immune complexes, IgA-bearing lymphocyte s, immunoglobulin-producing cells, and binding of IgG to glomerular co mponents of similar molecular weight. The occurrence of both diseases in the same patient or the same families and the presence of immune ab normalities compatible with HSP or IgAN in relatives of patients with these diseases suggest a common pathogenesis,