Immunoglobulin A is an antibody. Antibodies are produced when there is a virus, bacterium or toxin, threatening your body. Normally, these antibodies will help fight the thing that is invading your body. For reasons that are unknown, IgA can get into the kidney, causing inflammation.
IgA can eventually lead to blood and protein in the urine, high blood pressure, swollen hands and feet and other signs of CKD. Sometimes, during a routine screening your doctor may detect signs of IgA nephropathy, which include:.
If you find blood in the urine, talk to your doctor immediately, because this could be a symptom for IgA nephropathy. Caucasians and Asians also have a higher incidence of IgA nephropathy than other ethnic groups. In some cases, it 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. For those who have IgA nephropathy that leads to CKD, after time — years or even decades — their kidneys will slowly stop functioning and a treatment such as dialysis or a kidney transplant will be necessary.
Blood in the urine is the most common symptom for IgA nephropathy. If blood or protein is found in your urine a series of tests may be ordered by your doctor. These tests can usually determine if the kidneys are injured and how well they are working. IgA nephropathy cannot be prevented and has no cure. Some researchers have shown that fish oil supplements containing omega-3 fatty acids may slow kidney damage in some people with kidney disease by lowering blood pressure. Omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce inflammation and slow kidney damage due to IgA nephropathy.
To help ensure coordinated and safe care, people should discuss their use of complementary and alternative medical practices, including their use of dietary supplements and probiotics, with their health care provider. Read more at nccih. People with IgA nephropathy should talk with a health care provider about dietary changes to best manage their individual needs.
Clinical trials are part of clinical research and at the heart of all medical advances. Clinical trials look at new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease.
Researchers also use clinical trials to look at other aspects of care, such as improving the quality of life for people with chronic illnesses. Find out if clinical trials are right for you. Clinical trials that are currently open and are recruiting can be viewed at www. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public.
Julian, M. How does IgA nephropathy affect the kidneys? What causes IgA nephropathy? How common is IgA nephropathy and who is more likely to get the disease? What are the signs and symptoms of IgA nephropathy? What are the complications of IgA nephropathy?
How is kidney disease diagnosed? How is IgA nephropathy diagnosed? How is IgA nephropathy treated? How can a person prevent IgA nephropathy? The amount of blood may be visible with the naked eye.
The urine may turn pink or the color of tea or cola. Sometimes a person may have dark or bloody urine. A health care provider diagnoses kidney disease with a medical and family history a physical exam urine tests a blood test Medical and Family History Taking a medical and family history may help a health care provider diagnose kidney disease.
Physical Exam A physical exam may help diagnose kidney disease. Depending on the results, the test can indicate the following: eGFR of 60 or above is in the normal range eGFR below 60 may indicate kidney disease eGFR of 15 or below may indicate kidney failure How is IgA nephropathy diagnosed? Remove Extra Fluid A health care provider may prescribe a diuretic, a medication that helps the kidneys remove extra fluid from the blood. Health care providers may prescribe the following medications: corticosteroids, such as prednisone cyclophosphamide Lower Blood Cholesterol Levels People with IgA nephropathy may develop high blood cholesterol levels.
Eating, Diet, and Nutrition Researchers have not found that eating, diet, and nutrition play a role in causing or preventing IgA nephropathy. What are clinical trials, and are they right for you? What clinical trials are open? Additional Links Glomerular Diseases. If both your blood and urine tests show signs that your kidneys are damaged, your health care provider might want you to have a kidney biopsy. A kidney biopsy is a test to look at a tiny piece of your kidney under a powerful microscope.
During the biopsy, a needle is inserted into your kidney to collect a very small sample of your kidney tissue. A doctor will look at the sample using a microscope to check for IgA nephropathy. Only a kidney biopsy can tell your doctor if you have IgA nephropathy.
IgA nephropathy is one of the most common kidney diseases. While people of any age, gender or ethnicity can have it, the disease is more common in men than in women. It is also more common in whites and Asians than it is among other races and ethnicities. Doctors and scientists do not know what causes IgA nephropathy.
Although it sometimes happens after you have a cold or a similar infection, it can also happen if you have not had any infection. More common complications of IgA nephropathy include high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Having too much cholesterol in your blood raises your chances of having heart problems.
There is no cure for IgA nephropathy, but treatments can help to prevent more damage to your kidneys.
0コメント