Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy with Solitary Immunoglobulin A Deposition: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature

Abstract

A 63-year-old man with an 8-year history of proteinuria was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, and a renal biopsy was performed. Light and electron microscopic analyses showed classic features of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). However, immunofluorescence tests revealed solitary polyclonal granular IgA deposition along the glomerular capillary walls, rather than IgG, which is often dominant in IMN. The combined use of corticosteroids and calcineurin inhibitor was noticeably effective in reducing proteinuria and improving edema in the current case. Two additional rare cases of IMN with solitary IgA deposition were reviewed, and long-term surveillance is still warranted to characterize its clinicopathological features and outcome.

Glomerular Galactose-Deficient IgA1(KM55) Positive May Predict Poorer Prognosis in Coexisting Primary Membranous Nephropathy and IgA Nephropathy Patients

“…With the intensive study of the pathogenic mechanism of PMN and IgAN, more and more evidence has indicated that PLA2R and Gd-IgA1 play important roles in PMN and IgAN separately. However, the clinicopathological characteristics and pathogenesis of these PMN/IgAN patients have been investigated only by single case or in case series [6,7]. The role of glomerular and serum Gd-IgA1 in these PMN/IgAN patients is rarely discussed.…”