title: A study on clinical and pathologic features in lupus nephritis with mainly IgA deposits and a literature review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the clinical and pathologic features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that has atypical lupus nephritis (LN) with mainly IgA deposits.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the SLE patients who had nephritis with mainly IgA deposits in our hospital and selected the information including clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, treatments, and prognosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From January 2009 to June 2012, 5 patients were definitely diagnosed as SLE according to both 1982 and 2009 ACR classification criteria. But renal biopsy showed that all cases had mainly IgA deposits and were free of IgG, C1q, and fibrinogen-related antigen deposits under immunofluorescent microscopy, which did not match with typical LN. There were 2 males and 3 females, aging from 31 to 64 years and with an average of (42.20 ± 13.59) years. The 5 cases had multiple-system involvements, mainly the renal system. Compared to primary IgAN, the atypical LN showed some differences: older than primary IgAN, more women than men, no previous infection history, lower incidence of serum IgA elevation, and ACL positive rate as high as 100%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nephritis with mainly IgAN deposits, as an atypical LN, may be a special subtype of SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China.
authors.forename: Liu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hongyan
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yuewu
authors.forename: Meng
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007668:Kidney / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011239:Prednisolone