[Retinal vasculopathy associated with Berger's IgA nephropathy].
OBJECTIVE
Ophthalmological complications associated with Berger's IgA nephropathy comprise scleritis, episcleritis, keratoconjunctivitis as well as anterior uveitis. We present a new association of IgA nephropathy with a retinal vasculopathy.


METHODS
Presentation of two clinical cases.


RESULTS
Two patients presented with hematuria and epistaxis associated with a retinal vasculopathy characterised by teleangiectasies, capillary occlusion with retinal hemorrhages, neovascularisations and macular edema with decreased visual acuity. Fluorescein angiography showed zones of non-perfusion as well as vasculitic changes. A general medical exam revealed a normal arterial pressure but a slightly elevated creatinine. Immunological investigations for the presence of antibodies showed no positive results. Renal biopsy demonstrated mesangial proliferations with diffuse deposits of IgA. Over the course of a 2 year follow-up some of the retinal changes regressed under treatment with cortisone and visual acuity returned to normal. The teleangiectasies showed no progression.


CONCLUSIONS
Berger's IgA nephropathy can be associated with a retinal vasculopathy which may be due to local deposition of IgA immune complexes in the retinal vessels.
Wolfensberger
T J
TJ
Hôpital Ophtalmique Jules Gonin, Université de Lausanne, Schweiz. tjw@pingnet.ch
Piguet
B
B
Gregor
Z J
ZJ
Bird
A C
AC
D000328:Adult; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology; D004487:Edema / Q000276:immunology; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007105:Immune Complex Diseases / Q000150:complications; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D012166:Retinal Hemorrhage / Q000276:immunology; D015861:Retinal Neovascularization / Q000276:immunology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D013684:Telangiectasis / Q000276:immunology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000276:immunology
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D007070:Immunoglobulin A
Retinale Vaskulopathie assoziiert mit Bergers IgA-Nephropathie.