Significance of IgA deposits on the glomerular capillary walls in IgA nephropathy.

Based on immunofluorescence findings, 232 patients with IgA nephropathy were classified into two groups; one consisted of 88 patients (38%) with IgA deposits in the glomerular capillary walls together with the mesangial deposits (capillary type), and the other consisted of 144 patients (62%) with deposits confined to the mesangium (mesangial type). Electron microscopic findings revealed dense deposits on the capillary walls (subepithelial, 50%; intramembranous, 65%; and subendothelial, 24%) in 37 of 46 patients with capillary type and six of 47 with mesangial type (P