[Peripheral blood IgA bearing cells in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis and IgA nephropathy. Relationship between IgA bearing cells and clinico-pathological findings or T alpha 4 cells].

It has been reported that patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) and IgA nephropathy (IgAN) showed an familial increase of IgA bearing peripheral blood lymphocyte. To elucidate the relationship between IgA bearing cells and clinico-pathological findings or T cell subsets, especially IgA specific helper T cells (T alpha 4 cells), 20 patients with HSPN and 33 patients with IgAN were studied. The results demonstrated as follows; 1) IgA bearing cells were significantly increased in patients with both HSPN and IgAN (p < 0.001). 2) The increase of IgA bearing cells was well correlated to the degree of patients' proteinuria and hematuria (p < 0.05), and also correlated with the severity of patients' renal pathological findings in both diseases. 3) With relation to the T cell subsets in patients with both diseases, only the CD4+ Leu8- cells (helper T cells) and T alpha 4 cells were significantly increased, in addition, positive correlation between IgA bearing cells and CD4+ Leu8- cells or T alpha 4 cells was observed. 4) The increase of IgA bearing cells seemed to be transient in HSPN, but remained elevated in IgAN. In conclusion, it was indicated that patients with HSPN and IgAN could have IgA related immunological abnormalities, which may be reflected in the increase of IgA bearing cells and T alpha 4 cells. It was also suggested that determination of IgA bearing cells could be a useful parameter which may be reflected in the disease activity of HSPN and IgAN.