Circulating immune complexes IgA assayed in children with IgA nephropathy and henoch-schonnlein purroura nephritis

Objective To investigate the clinical significance of circulating immune complexes IgA (IgA-IC) assay to IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and henoch-schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) in children. Medthods Conglutinin- ELISA was applied to assay 198 patients divided into 4 groups corresponding to IgAN, HSPN, urinary tract infection and glomerulonephritis and 30 healthy children as controls. Results No significant difference of IgA-IC was found between any two of above groups. Conclusions There is no diagnostic value of IgA-IC assay to IgAN and HSPN. IgA-IC change has no relation with IgAN pathology.