title: Serum IgA levels in patients with diabetic nephropathy and IgA nephropathy superimposed on diabetes mellitus.
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels and diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, and to describe the role of IgA nephropathy superimposed on diabetes mellitus. A total of 127 type 2 diabetic patients were studied. Of these diabetics, 74 had no proteinuria, 35 had diabetic glomerulosclerosis confirmed by renal biopsy, 13 had superimposed IgA nephropathy, and five had superimposed non-IgA nephropathy. We also studied 93 non-diabetic patients with IgA nephropathy, 24 non-diabetic patients with non-IgA nephropathy, and 38 non-diabetic controls. Serum IgA levels were significantly higher in IgA nephropathy patients (350+/-130 mg/dl) than in non-diabetic controls (228+/-56 mg/dl) and diabetics without proteinuria (268+/-104 mg/dl). Serum IgA levels were also significantly higher in diabetics with superimposed IgA nephropathy (470+/-208 mg/dl) than in non-diabetic controls, non-IgA nephropathy patients (270+/-133 mg/dl), diabetics without proteinuria, diabetic glomerulosclerosis alone (302+/-126 mg/dl), and diabetics with superimposed non-IgA nephropathy (248+/-137 mg/dl). The prevalence of high serum IgA levels was significantly higher in diabetics with superimposed IgA nephropathy (76.9%) than in diabetic glomerulosclerosis alone (31.4%) and diabetics with superimposed non-IgA nephropathy (25.0%). In conclusion, our findings indicate that high serum IgA level is a sign of the existence of IgA nephropathy superimposed on diabetes mellitus.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kanauchi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dohi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006417:Hematuria; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011507:Proteinuria; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M