Aliskiren for Immunoglobulin A (IgA) Nephropathy

Inclusion Criteria: * aged 18-65 years * requires anti-hypertensive therapy * renal biopsy within the past 3 years and confirmed the diagnosis of IgA nephropathy * proteinuria \> 1 g/day (or proteinuria \> 1 g/g-Cr) in 3 consecutive samples within 12 weeks despite ACE inhibitor or ARB treatment for at least 3 months * estimated glomerular filtration rate \> 30 ml/min/1.73m2 * willingness to give written consent and comply with the study protocol Exclusion Criteria: * Patients who are diabetic, and patients with systemic diseases that may cause IgA nephropathy or another nephropathy. * Pregnancy, lactating or childbearing potential without effective method of birth control * Severe gastrointestinal disorders that interfere with their ability to receive or absorb oral medication * History of malignancy, including leukemia and lymphoma within the past 2 years * Systemic infection requiring therapy at study entry * Any other severe coexisting disease such as, but not limited to, chronic liver disease, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, malignant hypertension * History of drug or alcohol abuse within past 2 years * Participation in any previous trial on aliskiren or other renin inhibitor * Previous treatment with fish oil, steroid, cytotoxic agents, or aldosterone antagonist * History of treatment with other drugs that may affect proteinuria within past 2 years * Patients receiving treatment of corticosteroid * On other investigational drugs within last 30 days * History of a psychological illness or condition such as to interfere with the patient's ability to understand the requirement of the study * History of non-compliance * Known history of sensitivity or allergy to aliskiren or other renin inhibitor