Bronchiolitis obliterans and IgA nephropathy. A new cause of pulmonary-renal syndrome

Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1997 Aug;156(2 Pt 1):665-8. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm.156.2.9610043.

Abstract

IgA nephropathy is a common form of glomerulonephritis, classically manifested by asymptomatic hematuria. Although the exact pathophysiologic mechanism is still unknown, renal damage has been related to mesangial deposition of IgA-containing immune complexes. In recent years, some lung diseases have been associated with IgA nephropathy, including pulmonary hemorrhage and sarcoidosis. We report a patient with idiopathic bronchiolitis obliterans who developed a rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis due to IgA deposits. Extensive deposits of IgA were also found in the lungs, thus suggesting a pathogenetic role for IgA in tissue injury at both organ levels. To our knowledge this association has not been previously described in the literature.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Disease / diagnosis
  • Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Disease / etiology*
  • Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Disease / pathology
  • Antigen-Antibody Complex / analysis
  • Biopsy
  • Bronchiolitis Obliterans / complications*
  • Bronchiolitis Obliterans / diagnosis
  • Bronchiolitis Obliterans / pathology
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Glomerular Mesangium / immunology
  • Glomerulonephritis, IGA / complications*
  • Glomerulonephritis, IGA / diagnosis
  • Glomerulonephritis, IGA / pathology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin A / analysis
  • Kidney / pathology
  • Lung / pathology
  • Male

Substances

  • Antigen-Antibody Complex
  • Immunoglobulin A