IGA NEPHROPATHY AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF RENAL-INSUFFICIENCY FOLLOWING LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION

Three years following successful liver transplantation, a child developed proteinuria, hematuria and hypertension in the setting of progressive renal insufficiency. These abnormalities did not resolve with lower doses of ciclosporin. Because multiple drugs were required to control the hypertension and because no other etiology of the urinary abnormalities could be found, a renal biopsy was performed. The renal biopsy revealed findings consistent with severe IgA nephropathy, including glomeruloscelerosis, segmental crescents, mesangial cell and matrix expansion, mesangial deposits, and positive immunofluorescence for IgA.