The role of tonsillectomy in pediatric IgA nephropathy.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To review pediatric cases of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) in 6 patients who underwent tonsillectomy and had marked improvement of their renal symptoms and to review the appropriate indications for tonsillectomy for this disease.

DESIGN:

Retrospective case series.

SETTING:

Academic medical center.

PATIENTS:

Six children (age range, 8-15 years) with renal biopsy-proved IgAN who were referred by a pediatric nephrologist for recurrent tonsillitis.

INTERVENTION:

Tonsillectomy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Resolution of clinical features of IgAN, including proteinuria, gross and microscopic hematuria, and stabilization of renal function.

RESULTS:

The 6 patients in this series had marked clinical and laboratory improvement of their nephropathy.

CONCLUSIONS:

In a select group of pediatric cases of IgAN with mild to moderate disease and recurrent tonsillitis, tonsillectomy can be a useful adjuvant treatment to improve urinary symptoms and renal function. IgA nephropathy is a common indication for tonsillectomy in Japan but is seen less often in the United States. Otolaryngologists should be aware of this indication for tonsillectomy.

• Authors: Adam J Mariotti, Rekha Agrawal, Andrew J Hotaling
• Journal: Archives of otolaryngology--head & neck surgery (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg) Vol. 135 Issue 1 Pg. 85-7 (Jan 2009) ISSN: 1538-361X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19153312 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Immunoglobulin A
• Immunoglobulin G

Topics

• Adolescent
• Child
• Female
• Glomerulonephritis, IGA (epidemiology, metabolism, pathology)
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin A (metabolism)
• Immunoglobulin G (metabolism)
• Kidney Glomerulus (pathology)
• Male
• Palatine Tonsil (metabolism)
• Retrospective Studies
• Tonsillectomy (methods, statistics & numerical data)
• Tonsillitis (epidemiology, surgery)