[A familial history of hypertension is associated with the development of hypertension and nephroangiosclerosis in patients with glomerulonephritis caused by mesangial IgA deposits]

Abstract

The progress of IgA Nephropathy (IgAN) is correlated with glomerular and vascular sclerosis. Renal vascular lesions, i.e. nephrosclerosis, often precede the onset of hypertension (HBP) in young patients with IgAN. It is also recognized that a family history of HBP (FHBP) is strongly predictive of future onset of HBP in family members, when two or more first-degree relatives with HBP are identified. In order to examine the possible link between FHBP and nephrosclerosis, we compared 2 groups of 29 pts each (23 M and 6 F) with IgAN, matched for age and sex, according to the presence or absence of FHBP. FHBP was considered present if at least 2 or more 1st degree relatives under 60 years of age received antihypertensive Rx. Parents and siblings of patients were examined at home by two investigators. Patients with FHBP (+) and FHBP (-) were aged 36 +/- 12 and 35 +/- 12, respectively, at the time of renal biopsy and the follow-up was conducted for an average of 4.6 years. At the end of this survey, HBP and renal failure (Cr Cl < 80 ml/min) were reevaluated in all patients. At the time of renal biopsy, nephrosclerosis was significantly associated with FHBP: FHBP (+): 96.5% versus FHBP(-): 10.3%; p < 0.0001. At the end of the follow-up, FHBP was found to be associated with HBP (89.6% versus 10.3%; p < 0.001) and with renal failure (44.8% versus 3.4%; p < 0.001). These data suggest that nephrosclerosis has a strong genetic component in patients with IgAN, FHBP is an early clinical indicator of nephrosclerosis in these patients and that FHBP is a strong indicator of unfavorable prognosis in IgAN.