Muhammed Mubarak
1*, Hamid Nasri
21 Histopathology Department, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi, Pakistan
2 Department of Nephrology, Division of Nephropathology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
*Corresponding Author: *Corresponding author: Prof. Muhammed Mubarak, Histopathology Department, Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Karachi-74200, Pakistan., Email:
drmubaraksiut@yahoo.com
Abstract
Immunoglobulin M (IgM) is the largest antibody molecule and is deposited in the glomeruli in a wide variety of both primary and secondary glomerulopathies. The data on its pathogenic role are conflicting till date. A recent study provides evidence for the involvement of natural antibody IgM in fixing and activating complement and causing glomerular injury, proteinuria, and glomerulosclerosis in an animal model. This finding is important in understanding the pathogenesis of the related disorder of IgM nephropathy.
Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:
IgM nephropathy (IgMN) is a controversial clinicoimmunopathologic entity in the arena of primary glomerulopathies. Recently, many clinicopathological studies have been published, but there is severe lack of information on etiopathogenesis of the condition. A recent study has found that naturally occurring IgM antibody is pathogenic and plays a role in causing damage in animal models and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). This study provides an important stimulus for basic research focused on elucidating the pathophysiology of IgMN.
Please cite this paper as: Mubarak M, Nasri H. IgM nephropathy: timely response to a call for action. J Ren Inj Prev 2014; 3(1): 5-6. DOI: 10.12861/jrip.2014.03