title: Recent advances in the understanding and management of IgA nephropathy.
abstract: Since its first description in 1968, IgA nephropathy has remained the most common form of primary glomerulonephritis leading to chronic kidney disease in developed countries. The clinical progression varies, and consequent end-stage renal disease occurs in 30% to 40% of patients 20 to 30 years after the first clinical presentation. Current data implicate overproduction of aberrantly glycosylated IgA1 as being pivotal in the induction of renal injury. Effective and specific treatment is still lacking, and new therapeutic approaches will be developed after better understanding the disease pathogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Department, Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong; Nephrology Division Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Kar Neng
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Division Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Joseph C K
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Division Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Sydney C W
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Tang
keywords: Familial IgAN; IgA nephropathy; end-stage renal disease; genetics of IgAN; glomerulonephritis; treatment IgAn