Immunoglobulin A nephropathy in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

The occurrence of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) in patients with noni nsulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) is a rare event and of pathogene tic interest. It is not clear whether this is merely coincidence. We report here five patients with IgAN in NIDDM associated with or without diabetic glomerulosclerosis. All of the patients were Korean males. In three patient s, diabetes mellitus was diagnosed at the same time with diagnosis of IgAN, and the known duration of the diabetes in the other two patients were thre e and seven years, respectively. There was no evidence of diabetic retinopa thy in four patients, but it was found in one patient. In all cases, the di agnosis of IgAN was made by immunohistology.