IgA Nephropathy Associated with ANCA Vasculitis: Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

IgA nephropathy is the most common primary glomerulonephritis, it’s association with Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) vasculitis constitutes a rare way of presentation that is scarcely described in the literature and diagnosed in only 1-2% of the population. The typical clinical presentation is an episode of systemic arterial hypertension with macroscopic hematuria, non-nephrotic proteinuria, acute kidney injury and in the worst-cases if the disturb persists end-stage chronic kidney disease. The definitive diagnosis is made through a biopsy, which shows the main characteristics of this nephropathy, which consists in crescent-shaped glomeruli formation, fibrinoid necrosis, mesangial deposits of IgA, as well as positive ANCA antibodies. Treatment consists in systemic corticosteroids and immunosuppressants to prevent progression to end-stage renal disease. We present a case of a 55-year-old female patient with a history of upper respiratory tract infection 2 weeks prior to the development of macroscopic hematuria, foamy urine, non-nephrotic proteinuria, and persistent acute kidney injury in whom IgA nephropathy was determined, which had a successfully response to treatment with high doses of corticosteroids and systemic immunosuppressants.