Dietary Gluten and Primary IgA Nephropathy

Abstract
To the Editor: Experimental models1 , 2 and clinical observations3 4 5 indicate that circulating immune complexes containing IgA have a pathogenetic role in primary IgA nephropathy. Since IgA mostly derives from gut and respiratory-associated lymphoid tissue and since in primary IgA nephropathy, respiratory and gastrointestinal infections often coincide with gross hematuria, the mucosal immune system has been thought to play a part in the development of this nephropathy.Persistently high levels of IgA-containing immune complexes, such as those we have detected in patients with IgA nephropathy,3 , 4 , 6 may result from increased production (due to an IgAsecretory immune system overresponsive to continuous antigenic challenge), from . . .

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