IgA nephropathy is the most common primary glomerulonephritis in developed countries. The primary defect lies in the abnormalities of the IgA molecule. The disease affects all ages, mainly in the young adults, and may recur in a transplanted kidney. This outstanding volume provides a comprehensive overview of the advances in this disease over the last ten years. It covers the genetics, epidemiology, clinicopathological features, pathogenesis, prognostic mechanisms, and treatment of this unique disease. Twenty-seven chapters are written by 43 experts from 13 countries; these experts have been providing forefront scientific findings to the scientific community for the last 20 years. The book covers all clinical, pathological and molecular aspects of IgA nephropathy. This is an essential source of reference for nephrologists, internists, pathologists, and molecular biologists. It is also suitable reading for graduate students or research scientists in the field of kidney diseases. Contents: IgA Nephropathy: Discovery of a Distinct Glomerular Disorder (K T Woo et al.); Epidemiology and Ancestral Difference (F P Schena & F Pesce); Genetic Contribution of IgA Nephropathy (P H Maxwell & Y-M Wang); Histopathology, Immunofluorescence and Ultrastructural Examination (F M Lai); Tubulointerstitial Injury in IgA Nephropathy (J J Roelofs & S Florquin); Podocyte Pathology (K N Lai & J C K Leung); Clinicopathologic Findings (B A Julian & R J Wyatt); Clinical Course of Primary IgA Nephropathy (F C Berthoux & H Mohey); Special Clinical Syndromes (J Nagy & T KovГѓВЎcs); IgA Nephropathy in Children (R J Hogg); Recurrent IgA Nephropathy in Transplant (B Y Choy & K N Lai); IgA Molecule (J-W Eijgenraam et al.); IgA Immune-Complex (J Novak & J Mestecky); B and T Lymphocytes (A Rifai & A Chen); IgA Receptors and Mesangial IgA Deposition (I C Moura & R C Monteiro); Antigen-Dependent Mechanism of IgA Nephropathy (Y Tomino & Y Shimizu); Complement Activation (S C W Tang & K N Lai); Cytokines and Growth Factors (J Floege & T Ostendorf); Leukocytes, Macrophages and Monocytes (Y Ikezumi & D J Nikolic-Paterson); Renin-Angiotensin System (K N Lai & J C K Leung); Corticosteroids (C Pozzi & L Del Vecchio); Treatment for IgA Nephropathy: Renin-Angiotensin Blockade (R Coppo & L Peruzzi); Other Immunomodulatory Agents (S C W Tang & K N Lai); Other Non-Immunomodulatory Agents (J Barratt & J Feehally); Treatment of IgA Nephropathy: Tonsillectomy (O Hotta); Experimental Model of IgA Nephropathy (Y Suzuki & Y Tomino); Future Prospect for IgA Nephropathy (R J Glassock).