Berger disease: glomerulonephritis caused by the deposition of IgA-containing immune complexes in glomeruli
2006
Abstract
IgA nephropathy was described in 1968 by Jean Berger. Thus, "young" primary glomerulonephritis is important.
At that time, it was considered a benign disease. Most patients presented with micro- or macroscopic erythrocyturia with normal or only slightly reduced renal function.
The development of IgAN in the original Berger group of patients was re-evaluated after 25 years with surprising conclusions. It turned out that in 30% of patients the urinary finding disappeared, persisted in 33% with preserved renal function, but 38% of patients with chronic irreversible renal disorders.
It is now known that IgAN is also a primary primary glomerulonephritis with a severe prognosis.