Levels of Circulating IgA Immune Complexes after Gluten-Rich Diet in Patients with IgA Nephropathy

Measurement of IgA circulating immune complexes (IgA-CIC) in sera from patients with IgA nephropathy after a gluten-poor diet, an unrestricted diet and a gluten-rich diet is described. High levels of IgA-CIC in sera were detected in patients after these diets. However, the levels of IgA-CIC in sera 2 weeks after the gluten-rich diet were not significantly increased compared with those after the other diets. It is suggested that, for a short duration, the gluten-rich diet might not increase the levels of IgA-CIC in sera from Japanese patients with IgA nephropathy.