What causes IgA nephropathy?

iga nephropathy

What causes IgA nephropathy?
Anyone at any age can get IgA nephropathy although it is more common in men. Caucasians and Asians also have a higher incidence of IgA nephropathy than other ethnic groups.

It is still unknown how people develop IgA nephropathy and why IgA traps itself in the kidneys. In some cases IgA nephropathy can develop after a child or young adult has a viral infection of the upper respiratory or gastrointestinal tracts. For some people, a genetic defect may be linked to the development of IgA nephropathy.

IgA nephropathy tends to progress slowly, and in only about half of patients does it progress to end-stage renal disease within 25 years.

At present, the factors that predict an accelerated course and progression to end-stage renal disease are persistent proteinuria, elevated serum creatinine at diagnosis, persistent microscopic hematuria, poorly controlled hypertension, and extensive glomerulosclerosis or interstitial fibrosis, or both, on renal biopsy.

Needed are better diagnostic and prognostic tests and therapies that address the mechanism of the disease.

IgA nephropathy and your kidneys
Acute kidney failure or chronic kidney disease can occur due to IgA nephropathy. In some cases of IgA nephropathy, a person’s kidneys will stop functioning suddenly and then after a time will begin functioning again. For those who have IgA nephropathy that leads to chronic kidney disease, after time — years or even decades — their kidneys will slowly stop functioning. Whether there is acute kidney failure or kidney function stops after time, dialysis will be necessary. Dialysis acts as a replacement for the kidneys by filtering the waste and toxins from your blood through a dialysis machine. A kidney transplant can be considered for those who have progressed to end stage renal disease.

How do doctors diagnose IgA nephropathy?
Blood in the urine is the most common symptom for IgA nephropathy. If blood or protein is found in your urine a series of blood and urine tests may be ordered by your doctor. These tests can usually determine if the kidneys are injured and how well they are working. Large amounts of IgA in your blood can sometimes be detected, but there are no specific blood or urine tests that can always determine whether kidney injury is due to IgA nephrolpathy, or if it is due to some other condition.

A kidney biopsy may be in order if your doctor believes it is a severe case. To perform a kidney biopsy, your doctor uses a special biopsy needle to remove tiny pieces of tissue from your kidneys for examination in determining if IgA has lodged itself into the glomeruli.

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