Long-term prognosis for tonsillectomy patients with IgA nephropathy

A retrospective study of 85 patients with IgA nephropathy was undertaken to determine the long-term effect of tonsillectomy. Forty-three patients (24 males and 19 females) had received tonsillectomies (Group A) and 42 patients (17 males and 25 females) had not (Group B). These patients had been followed up for more than 5 years after renal biopsy. The average age at the initial renal biopsy was 25.72 years in Group A, and 33.16 years old in Group B. The average period of renal biopsy to tonsillectomy in Group A was 10.47 months. The average follow-up period was 8 years and 9 months in both groups. At the beginning of treatment, the two groups were well matched in terms of creatinine clearance, urinalysis, and blood pressure. Six patients in Group A and eight patients in Group B were treated with steroids. The glomerular injury detected at the renal biopsy was more extensive in Group A than in Group B. Renal function in the two groups was compared. The clinical remission rate in Group A was significantly higher than in group B (P<0.05). The stable renal function rate in Group A was significantly higher than in Group B (P<0.05). The renal survival rate was 97.7% in Group A and 83.3% in Group B, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. Histologically, the rate of remission of the minor lesion in Group A was significantly higher than in Group B (P < 0.05). Our results showed that tonsillectomy for IgA nephropathy was clinically of great value.