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 glomeration.
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 damage by the IGA protein, the kidney progressively loses its ability to clear waste from the body.
What are the signs and symptoms of IGA nephropathy?
The most common sign is blood in the urine, another common sign is swelling of the feet. As loss of kidney function progresses, symptoms may include:
How is IGA nephropathy treated?
Efforts to slow the progression of kidney damage may include:
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 damage by the IGA protein, the kidney progressively loses its ability to clear waste from the body.
What are the signs and symptoms of IGA nephropathy?
The most common sign is blood in the urine, another common sign is swelling of the feet. As loss of kidney function progresses, symptoms may include:
- Pain in the back below the ribs
- Increased need to urinate
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Swelling of the hands and feet
- High blood pressure
How is IGA nephropathy treated?
Efforts to slow the progression of kidney damage may include:
- Limiting the amount of protein in the diet
- Controlling high blood pressure by medication and diet
- Fish oil-supplemental medication used to slow down kidney disease
- For patients who develop total kidney failure, treatment may consist of dialysis or a kidney transplant.