- The most common clinically recognized primary glomerular disease worldwide
- Cause unknown-related to increased IgA in blood and the presence of polymeric IgA
- Affects children and young adults
- Clinical has protean manifestations: Isolated hematuria and/or proteinuria, nephrotic syndrome, nephritic syndrome, chronic renal failure, and RPGN
- Recurrent hematuria (Hematuria is usually short-lived and lasts only a few days. It disappears spontaneously but recurs at unpredictable intervals.) Gross hematuria following a respiratory infection, microscopic hematuria with or without proteinuria in 30%,
- Gastrointestinal infection or UTI in 55%, elevated IgA;
- Chronic and persistent course; Renal function remains intact in most cases, but in 30-50% of cases there is evidence of progressive loss of renal reserve and impending renal failure.