IgA nephropathy. From molecules to men.

The author of this volume has studied IgA nephropathy for nearly 25 years, almost as long as primary IgA nephropathy has been recognized as a new disease. IgA nephropathy, considered to be an immune-complex-mediated glomerulonephritis, is characterized by granular deposition of IgA (mainly IgA1) and C3 in the glomerular mesangial areas and is defined as nephropathy showing proliferative changes in the glomerular mesangial cells and increases in the mesangial matrices. Apart from being one of the most common types of chronic glomerulonephritis, it is also the most frequent case of end-stage renal disease. Since the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy is still obscure, specific treatment is not yet available. Previous approaches have included tonsillectomy, anticoagulants, prednisolone, immunosuppressants, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and others. During his career, the author of this book has studied many aspects of IgA nephropathy, shedding much light on the mechanism of development and progression of this disease. He also undertook new treatments for patients and developed animal models for IgA nephropathy. The purpose of the present volume is to review the author's work on pathogenesis and treatment of the disease and to provide the most up-to-date findings on this subject, constituting a valuable source of information for nephrologists, general practitioners, residents and interns.