A Study of the Antioxidant Probucol Combined With Valsartan in Patients With IgA Nephropathy

Inclusion Criteria: * Patients who fulfill the clinical and pathological criteria for IgA nephropathy * Age: 18-60 years * Renal biopsy diagnostic for IgA nephropathy based on immunohistologic staining for IgA that is greater than or equal to staining for IgG and IgM * Urinary protein excretion rate is within the range of 1-2.5g/day * Serum creatinine \<265.2umol/L at the time of randomization Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who refuse to be randomized for treatment * Patients who prefer treatment with conventional agents * Patients who are pregnant or plan for pregnancy * Patients who are pathologically proven severely or diffusely proliferative IgA nephropathy or crescent glomerulonephritis with \>= 50% segmental involvement of the glomeruli and should be treated with other agents,such as immunosuppressive agents or steroid * Clinical and histologic evidence of: * systemic lupus erythematosus * Henoch-Schonlein purpura * cirrhosis * chronic active liver disease * hepatitis B * hepatitis C * severe chronic diarrhea * active peptic ulcer disease * HIV * acute renal failure * malignant hypertension * severe heart diseases * malignant tumor * any systemic infection * pregnancy * Known contraindication to the administration of probucol and valsartan