What is IgA nephropathy?

Kidney condition is known as IgA nephropathy. Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (pronounced "nuh-FROP-uh-thee") is the source of the name. An antibody, or IgA, is a protein that your immune system makes to protect you from viruses and bacteria.

When IgA accumulates in the kidneys, it promotes inflammation, which damages the kidney tissues in persons with IgA nephropathy.

IgA nephropathy is also known as Berger's disease. Two French physicians, Jean Berger and Nicole Hinglais, identified the disease.

What is the difference between IgA nephropathy and selective IgA deficiency?

Both diseases are caused by the protein IgA. A person with selective IgA deficiency either lacks enough or has very low levels of it.

How do my kidneys work?

The kidneys are part of your urinary system. Here's how they usually work:

Kidneys: These bean-shaped organs lie on each side of your spine. They filter your blood, removing waste and excess water. The waste and water leave your body as urine, and the kidneys then reabsorb the water and chemicals that your body needs.
Nephrons: The small units that filter in each kidney are called nephrons. Each kidney contains approximately one million nephrons.
Glomerulus and tubule: Both these structures are in every nephron. It is the tiny blood vessels - glomeruli, filtering your blood, and this is where the tubules bring back what you want into your blood and take away the waste.

What is IgA nephropathy's connection with ESRD?

IgA nephropathy attacks the glomeruli. This form of glomerular disease accumulates IgA deposits and damages the glomeruli. The damage caused results in your kidneys leaking blood (hematuria) and protein (proteinuria) into your urine.

Eventually, the nephrons may scar, developing kidney disease. As that scarring continues, you may establish end-stage kidney (renal) disease or ESRD. Such a process may occur abruptly over months or two decades after your first diagnosis.

If you develop ESRD, your kidneys can't function well to keep you healthy. For example, you may:

Undergo dialysis in a machine that helps cleanse your blood.

Surgery to remove your diseased kidney and replace it with a healthy donor kidney is known as a kidney transplant.

Who is at risk for IgA nephropathy?

IgA nephropathy risk factors include:

IgA nephropathy in the family.
IgA vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein purpura) in the family.
being male, in his teens to late 30s, and a young adult.
Ethnicity: European or Asian.

Why does IgA nephropathy occur?

IgA nephropathy is thought by researchers to be an autoimmune kidney disease. Your kidneys are attacked by your immune system.

Patients with IgA nephropathy have more IgA with fewer galactose molecules than usually found. Galactose is a sugar molecule. Your body views these low-galactose IgA as "foreign." Consequences include the following:

Other antibodies in your body bind to the low-galactose IgA.
The IgA accumulates into masses or groups known as immune complexes.
Immune complexes become trapped within the glomeruli.
Inflammation and damage lead to kidney disease.

For example, IgA immune complexes are circulating at a higher level when you have a cold or some other infection in your lungs. A proportion of them will make their way into your kidneys. In these circumstances, the following effects are seen by some: the symptoms of IgA nephropathy begin following the development of a cold, among other possible triggers.

Is IgA nephropathy genetic?

This disease has a family history for some people. Scientists have found some genetic markers for the disease, that is to say, an actual genetic mutation (change) causes IgA nephropathy.

What are the symptoms of IgA nephropathy?

At first, you may have no signs. It can be years or even decades before symptoms start.

The most common signs and symptoms are:

Visible blood in your urine (hematuria).
Flank pain (on the sides of your back).
Ankle swelling (edema).
High blood pressure (hypertension).
Proteinuria (excessive protein in your urine), which can cause edema (swelling) and foamy urine.

What are the complications of IgA nephropathy?

Complications include:

High blood pressure.
Acute kidney failure, suddenly losing kidney function.
Chronic kidney failure, gradual loss of kidney function over time
Nephrotic syndrome is a group of symptoms that means there is damage to the kidneys; it includes high protein levels in urine, swelling, high cholesterol
Heart or heart or cardiovascular disease
IgA vasculitis.

How is IgA nephropathy diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will discuss the problem, your medical history, and your family. You may have the following:

Physical exam check, including checking blood pressure for signs of swelling;
Urinalysis can check for blood.
Blood tests to estimate the amounts of cholesterol, protein, and waste in your blood.
Blood tests to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) will assess how many minutes your kidneys take to filter the amount of blood.
A urine protein test measures protein and/or albumin leaking into your urine.
If needed, twenty-four-hour urine studies can be performed to measure the protein or albumin leaking through your urine over that duration.

Do I need to undergo a kidney biopsy?

Your healthcare provider may recommend a kidney biopsy if further tests are needed. This test will validate the diagnosis of IgA nephropathy.

Your doctor uses a needle to collect tiny tissue from your kidney. A pathologist analyses the tissue to determine whether there are IgA deposits in the glomeruli and the extent of the damage.

How is IgA nephropathy treated?

ESRD can be avoided or its development slowed with treatment. It is likely that your healthcare practitioner may recommend a nephrologist or kidney disease expert if you have IgA nephropathy.

Medication:

Medication for IgA nephropathy may involve the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), or other medications to control blood pressure.
Take a diuretic to get rid of surplus fluid.
Manage your immune system to lower the inflammation in your kidneys using prescribed steroids such as prednisone or cyclophosphamide, another drug.
Lower your cholesterol using drugs like statins

Is a tonsillectomy of any benefit to an IgA nephropathy patient?

Some research shows that removal of the tonsils might benefit a few people suffering from IgA nephropathy. Talk about it with your doctor.

How can I help prevent IgA nephropathy?

The prevention of IgA nephropathy is unknown. Consult your physician if you have a family history of IgA nephropathy. They will recommend the best action plan for staying healthy. Ensure you maintain blood pressure and cholesterol at safe levels.

Does my diet make me susceptible to or not getting IgA nephropathy?

Researchers indicate no relationship between nutrition, diet, and the avoidance of IgA nephropathy.

What is the prognosis of the patient with IgA nephropathy?

In some cases, IgA nephropathy spontaneously recovers. Very occasionally, it rapidly progresses, and the kidneys fail within several years.

There is no cure for this illness. As long as a patient is healthy, appropriate therapy can halt the progression of this condition.

Approximately 1 in 10 to 20 children with IgA nephropathy go on to develop ESRD, while 1 in 4 adults with IgA nephropathy eventually do so.

Will a kidney transplant be necessary for me?

The course of each person's illness is unique. Some people can live with the condition for a long period and react well to therapy.

A kidney transplant may be a possibility if IgA nephropathy advances to the last stage of renal failure. You will discuss dialysis and kidney transplants with your care team.

Why choose Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for IgA Nephropathy / Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy treatment in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital has the most trusted team of Nephrologists with advanced diagnostic equipment care for Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy treatment in Lucknow, India. Our Nephrology department follows international safety standards and has years of experience in successfully managing disease and conditions like Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy.