AKA mesangioproliferative glomerulonephritis or Berger’s disease

The commonest cause of glomerulonephritis worldwide.

Associated conditions

• alcoholic cirrhosis
• coeliac disease/dermatitis herpetiformis
• Henoch-Schonlein purpura

Pathophysiology

• thought to be caused by mesangial deposition of IgA immune complexes
• there is considerable pathological overlap with Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP)
• histology: mesangial hypercellularity, positive immunofluorescence for IgA & C3

PC

• young male, recurrent episodes of macroscopic haematuria
• typically associated with a recent respiratory tract infection
• nephrotic range proteinuria is rare
• renal failure is unusual and seen in a minority of patients