IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is an endochrine (renal) disorder of unknown cause. IgAN occurs when deposits of the protein immunoglobulin A (IgA) enter the kidneys. The IgA protein interrupts the filtering process of the kidneys, causing blood and protein to build in the urine and resulting in swelling of the feet and hands. As this condition progresses, the filtering units of the kidneys (glomeruli) are permanently damaged, and renal failure will eventually ensue. Researchers have come to no definitive conclusions about the etiology of IgAN. Select studies claim that IgAN occurs following a flu-like viral infection of the upper respiratory tract or the gastrointestinal tract. This condition could also be the result of an autoimmune disease in which the IgA antibodies interfere with normal kidney functioning. An¬ other possibility is that the disorder is familial. In fact, recent research has shown more definitively that IgAN may be of genetic origin and that these genetic factors may influence severity and course of IgAN.
IgA nephropathy is a kidney disease characterized by hematuria (blood in the urine) and the presence of deposits of IgA immunoglobulins in the kidneys. IgA is a type of protein produced by the immune system to fight infections, but in some cases, excessive amounts of IgA are produced due to a throat infection. Consequently, IgA complexes accumulate in the kidney’s filtering units. This condition is the most prevalent form of glomerulonephritis.
This condition predominantly affects children and young men. It can result in either microscopic hematuria (blood in the urine that is not visible to the naked eye) or episodes of macroscopic hematuria (visible blood in the urine). In certain instances, nephrotic syndrome may develop, characterized by the excessive excretion of protein in the urine, leading to elevated blood pressure and tissue swelling, known as edema.
The management of IgA nephropathy may include corticosteroid drugs and immunosuppressants, along with symptom-relieving treatments. Generally, the prognosis for IgA nephropathy is positive. Nonetheless, in certain cases, kidney function may decline, and kidney failure can develop in up to one in five individuals after many years.