Association of IgA nephropathy with Clostridium difficile colitis

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy, the most common cause of glomerulonephr itis worldwide, is usually idiopathic in origin and renal limited. Secondar y IgA nephropathy has been associated with systemic disease, including such gastrointestinal tract disturbances as celiac sprue and inflammatory bower disease. We describe gross hematuria and reversible acute renal failure fr om IgA nephropathy in a patient with cephalosporin-induced Clostridium diff icile colitis. In addition to mesangial IgA and C3 deposition, renal histol ogical examination showed glomerular bleeding, intratubular red blood cell casts, and acute tubular necrosis, To the best of our knowledge, this is th e first report of an association between IgA nephropathy and C difficile co litis. (C) 1999 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.