PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF MESANGIAL IGA GLOMERULONEPHRITIS

In patients with mesangial IgA glomerulonephritis impaired activity of suppressor-inducer T-cells, decreased suppressor T-cell activity and a hyperactivity of T-helper cells is found. This results in increased production of IgA and IgA-immune-complexes. It is suspected that oral tolerance is also disturbed in IgA-nephropathy. The familial occurrence and deviations in allele frequencies of certain HLA-subtypes, complement components and of immunoglobulin genes point to a genetic predisposition for IgA nephropathy. It is presently unknown how IgA immune complexes result in glomerular mesangial damage.