Iga nephropathy symptoms Profile

Iga nephropathy

IgA nephropathy is a progressive condition, and it can take decades before you experience any symptoms. Sometimes, during a routine screening your doctor may detect signs of IgA nephropathy.

In many parts of the world, IgA nephropathy is the most common form of glomerulonephritis--a disease that damages the tiny filtering units of the kidney, called glomeruli. The damage caused by IgA nephropathy results from abnormal deposits of a protein called "IgA" in the glomeruli.

IgA is a protein called an antibody that helps the body fight infections. IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease) occurs when too much of this protein is deposited in the kidneys. IgA builds up inside the small blood vessels of the kidney. Structures in the kidney called glomeruli become inflamed and damaged.

IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease) is a form of mesangial proliferative nephritis.

The disorder can appear suddenly (acute), or get worse slowly over many years (chronic glomerulonephritis).


One of the kidney's most important jobs is to filter toxic waste products from the blood, and the glomeruli play a key role in this process. As more glomeruli are damaged by the IgA protein, the kidney progressively loses its ability to clear wastes from the body. In some patients with IgA nephropathy, this loss of kidney function progresses to chronic kidney failure, which requires dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant.

What are the signs and symptoms of IgA nephropathy?
The most common sign is blood in the urine. The amount of blood may be so small that it is only visible with the aid of a microscope. Another common sign is swelling of the feet.

What causes IgA nephropathy?
The causes of IgA nephropathy are not well understood. The disease seems to cluster in certain families and in certain areas of the world. It rarely occurs in people of African heritage. These facts suggest that genetic influences may play a role in the development of the disease.

How is IgA nephropathy diagnosed?
The presence of blood or protein in the urine are a possible sign of IgA nephropathy. A blood test for serum creatinine can be used to calculate glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which tells how well your kidneys are filtering wastes from the blood. To confirm this diagnosis, it is necessary to do a biopsy. The doctor removes a small piece of tissue from the kidney and examines it under a microscope to look for the characteristic IgA deposits in the glomeruli.

How is IgA nephropathy treated?
Efforts to slow the progression of kidney damage may include limiting the amount of protein in the diet and, if present, careful control of high blood pressure through diet and medication. If these treatments are not enough after a few months, then corticosteroids, such as prednisone, may also be considered. Fish oil has also been used as a treatment. Discuss the use of any supplement and medication with your doctor. For patients who develop progressive kidney failure, treatment may consist of dialysis or a kidney transplant.

The success rate of transplants is good in these patients. Even though the IgA deposits reappear in the transplanted kidney in about half the patients within one year after the operation, the signs and symptoms of the disease remain mild. Loss of a transplanted kidney to recurrent IgA nephropathy is uncommon. The milder form of the disease seen after transplantation may be due to the use of anti-rejection drugs such as cyclosporine.

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