The Effect of Tonsillectomy in Those 50 Years Old and Over with IgA Nephropathy

The percentage of IgA nephropathy is large in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis, and 40% of IgA patients are expected to develop renal failure within 20 years. Young IgA nephropathy patients had undergone tonsillectomy. We studied cases of 4 persons 50 years old and over with IgA nephropathy undergone tonsillectomy between 1997 and 2008, comparing pre- and postoperative renal function, hematuria and proteinuria. Hematouria and proteinuria increased in all cases, but none had clinical remission. Tonsillectomy in those 50 years old and over, thus appears clinically useful, but long-term tonsillectomy effects require further study.