Immunoglobulin A nephropathy. Quantitative immunohistomorphometry of the tonsillar plasma cells evidences an inversion of the immunoglobulin A versus immunoglobulin G secreting cell balance.

IgA Mesangial Nephropathy: Bergers Disease

“…However, the majority of investigators have not found SC in the mesangium [80,90,91]. Further evi dence of the role of upper respiratory tract infections has been demonstrated by the detection of increase of IgA in pharyngeal washings [92] and an inversion of the immu noglobulin A versus immunoglobulin G secretory cell balance of the tonsillar plasma cells [93] in IgA nephrop athy. IgA nephropathy appears to be a perversion of the natural barrier function of IgA in mucosal secretions.…”

IgA Nephropathy in Japan

“…As you may know, we pre viously reported the presence of scleritis in some patients with IgA nephropathy [33]. In the biopsy specimens of sclera [41] these authors observed the accumulation of IgA-producing plasma cells around the blood vessels, presumably not a monomeric but oligomeric IgA.…”

“…A recent paper from France [41] has demonstrated that the ratio of B cells producing IgA or IgG in tonsils was reversed in patients with IgA nephropathy. Thus, these authors demonstrated that the number of B cells producing IgA is greater than those producing IgG in IgA nephropathy, while in normal subjects the number of B cells producing IgG is greater than those producing IgA.…”

Worse Urinary Findings after Stimulating Tonsils in Patients with IgA Nephropathy

“…It is also suggested that abnormalities of the secretory immune system may exist in IgA nephropathy patients. Several investiga tors reported the increase of tonsillar IgA-secreting cells [2], the increase of IgA concentra tion in pharyngeal washings [3] and elevated salivary IgA in IgA nephropathy patients [4,5], We speculated that chronic tonsillitis may be involved in the development of IgA nephropathy and tried to clarify the deleteri ous effect of mechanical tonsil stimulation on urinary findings.…”