How is IgA nephropathy caused?

Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
Updated on January 16, 2025
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IgA nephropathy is a common glomerular disease and a major cause of uremia. However, the exact cause of IgA nephropathy is not very clear. Current research suggests that it is caused by factors such as infections which stimulate the production of autoantibodies, forming immune complexes that deposit in the glomeruli. This leads to inflammation of the glomeruli, eventually stimulating mesangial cell proliferation and accumulation of extracellular matrix, causing glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis. IgA nephropathy is a very covert disease, often presenting as asymptomatic hematuria or increased urine protein. Many patients discover this condition incidentally during physical examinations. Some individuals have a history of upper respiratory or gastrointestinal infections before the onset of the disease, followed by the discovery of gross hematuria. IgA nephropathy is more common in children and adolescents.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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How to deal with swollen feet in IgA nephropathy?

IgA nephropathy is a pathological type of chronic glomerulonephritis, and patients are prone to edema. The treatment of this edema is divided into two aspects: First, it is necessary to control the condition of IgA nephropathy itself. If there is a significant amount of proteinuria or a large formation of crescents in the glomeruli, the patient may need to use steroids and immunosuppressive agents to control the inflammatory response in the glomeruli. This is the fundamental approach to treating this disease. Second, symptomatic treatment is applied. For mild edema, no special treatment is generally required. However, for severe edema or even systemic edema, it may be appropriate to use diuretics to increase urine output, which can alleviate the patient's edema. However, this is not a solution to the root cause of the problem.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Can IgA nephropathy patients eat watermelon?

IgA nephropathy is a chronic glomerulonephritis with varying degrees of severity and diverse clinical manifestations. Whether patients can eat watermelon depends on their kidney function and the presence of edema symptoms. If patients have kidney failure and noticeable edema, it is advised that they avoid eating watermelon, as it contains a significant amount of potassium ions. Consuming watermelon may lead to hyperkalemia due to the intake of large amounts of potassium ions. The main component of watermelon is water, and if patients have noticeable symptoms of edema, eating watermelon may exacerbate these symptoms and even cause issues like hypertension. If patients do not have noticeable edema and their kidney function is normal, eating small amounts of watermelon should not be a major concern.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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IgA nephropathy is a kidney disease.

In medical terms, there is a condition named IgA nephropathy. IgA is actually a type of immunoglobulin. The function of immunoglobulins is to bind with antigens, which then induces an inflammatory response. For example, when bacteria enter the human body, the combination of IgA with the bacteria guides the body's immune system to target and attack the bacteria, which is a normal scenario. This IgA immunoglobulin acts as a mediator in the immune response. Due to some defect, this substance accumulates in the glomeruli. Its deposition in the glomerular capillaries can trigger inflammation in these blood vessels, leading to IgA nephropathy. This results in proliferation of glomerular mesangial cells, deposition in the mesangial matrix, causing blood and protein in the urine, and even leading to renal failure.

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Written by Li Liu Sheng
Nephrology
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What will happen if someone with IgA nephropathy stays up late?

IgA nephropathy is a very common glomerular disease in clinical settings and is one of the main causes of uremia. IgA nephropathy is most commonly seen in adolescents, particularly in males. The cause of IgA nephropathy is currently unclear, but the clinical manifestations of patients with IgA nephropathy are numerous and vary in severity. For patients with milder IgA nephropathy, it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, avoid staying up late, overworking, and infections. Frequently staying up late can aggravate the condition, leading to significant proteinuria and even worsening kidney function. Therefore, it is crucial for patients with IgA nephropathy to regularly monitor their urinalysis, kidney function, and blood pressure, maintain a regular lifestyle, and avoid various adverse lifestyle impacts. Of course, once the condition worsens, it is important to seek medical attention promptly and pursue active treatment.

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Written by Zhou Qi
Nephrology
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Can IgA nephropathy be cured?

IgA nephropathy cannot be completely cured. IgA nephropathy is a type of chronic glomerulonephritis and is a chronic disease. Currently, it is incurable in medical practice. However, many patients have only mild symptoms, such as mild hematuria, proteinuria, and minor kidney damage, and timely long-term management of the disease usually does not lead to severe consequences. Some patients, on the other hand, have relatively severe conditions and require treatment with steroid medications. Most of these patients can achieve relatively good treatment outcomes and ultimately avoid severe kidney failure. However, a very small number of patients may eventually experience significant proteinuria and even severe renal failure.