Increased IgA deposits are seen in –
**Core Concept**
The presence of increased IgA deposits in tissues is a hallmark of IgA nephropathy, a type of kidney disease characterized by the deposition of IgA antibodies in the glomeruli. This leads to inflammation and damage to the kidney's filtration units, compromising renal function.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
IgA nephropathy is a common cause of kidney disease worldwide, and the presence of IgA deposits is a key diagnostic criterion. The deposition of IgA antibodies occurs in the mesangium, a region of the glomerulus where immune complexes can accumulate and cause inflammation. This leads to the activation of complement and the recruitment of inflammatory cells, ultimately resulting in renal damage.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is incorrect because IgA deposits are not typically associated with membranous nephropathy, a different type of kidney disease characterized by the deposition of immune complexes in the glomerular basement membrane.
**Option B:** This option is incorrect because systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease that can affect multiple organs, including the kidneys, but it is not characterized by IgA deposits.
**Option C:** This option is incorrect because minimal change disease is a type of kidney disease that is characterized by the loss of foot processes in the glomerular podocytes, but it is not associated with IgA deposits.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
IgA nephropathy is often referred to as Berger's disease, named after the French pathologist Jean Berger who first described the condition in 1968. It is a leading cause of kidney disease worldwide and is often associated with hematuria (blood in the urine), particularly after respiratory or gastrointestinal infections.
**Correct Answer:** D.