Abstract: Objective:To explore the expression of heparanase in glomerulus of patients with IgA nephropathy and its relationship with clinical parameters. Methods:A total of 78 patients with IgA nephropathy diagnosed by biopsy were classified into 4 groups according to the Lees classification. Comparing the clinical parameters in patients of five groups including urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, 24h proteinuria quantitation and complement in urine and hematuria. Immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expression of Hpa in glomerulus of patients with IgAN and control group. Results:Heparanase expressed at a very low level in the glomerulus in control group.Compared with control group, the expressions of heparanase were significantly increased in glomerulus of IgAN groups (P<0.05). There was significant difference of the expressions of heparanase in 4 groups (P<0.01). The expressions of heparanase positively correlated with the 24h proteinuria quantitation (P<0.01); moreover the expressions of Hpa did not correlate with serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, complement in urine and hematuria (P>0.05). Conclusion:The abnormal expressions of heparanase may correlate with the renal pathology and the development of proteinuria in patients with IgAN ，namely, down- regulation of heparanase may be good for the recovery of IgAN.

Key words: glomerulonephritis, IgAkidney glomerulusproteinuriaimmunohistochemistryheparanase