Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary glomerulonephritis, and patients typically require dialysis when the disease progresses to end-stage renal failure. As the incidence of IgAN is high in Asian populations, establishing a diagnostic strategy is essential. This article is a synopsis of diagnostic guideline published in Clinical and Experimental Nephrology in 2016. IgAN or Berger’s disease is a disease characterized by IgA deposition in the glomeruli, with no evidence of another underlying disease.
Glomerular hematuria and proteinuria are urinary findings that suggest glomerulonephritis. Renal biopsy findings, which are required for confirming the diagnosis of glomerulonephritis, include IgA deposits mainly in the glomerular mesangium and occasionally in the capillary loops. The rate of progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is approximately 40% at 20…
