[Alcohol and IgA in the kidney].

Patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease show an increase in serum IgA with a preferential elevation of polymeric IgA. Furthermore, immune complexes containing IgA can be demonstrated. These changes may be explained by an alcohol-induced increase in intestinal permeability to macromolecular antigens leading to an IgA response, and by a decreased hepatic clearance of polymeric IgA not dependent on a secretory component. The prevalence of glomerular IgA deposits amounts to 50% in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis examined at autopsy. Polymeric and monomeric IgA, partially as immune complexes can be detected. However, urinary symptoms very rarely occur. The factors leading to glomerulonephritis following IgA deposition are poorly understood.