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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IgA kidney disease symptoms

The clinical manifestations of IgA nephropathy are diverse. The most common clinical manifestations include episodic gross hematuria, asymptomatic hematuria, and proteinuria. Episodic gross hematuria often occurs several hours after an upper respiratory tract infection, or a day or two later. Patients may notice that their urine is dark tea-colored, brown, or fresh red, light red, and this type of gross hematuria tends to recur. The second type is asymptomatic microscopic hematuria, with or without proteinuria, also known as asymptomatic urinalysis. This is often discovered during physical examinations when patients show no symptoms and tests reveal hidden blood and protein positivity in the urine. The third major category is proteinuria, which in some patients may present as nephrotic syndrome-like proteinuria. The fourth is hypertension; the fifth, acute kidney injury; and the sixth, chronic kidney failure. Most patients with IgA nephropathy gradually progress to chronic kidney failure within 10 to 20 years of diagnosis.

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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.

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How to maintain health with IgA nephropathy normally?

This is a pathological type of chronic glomerulonephritis, which is a diagnostic term in immunopathology and essentially represents chronic glomerulonephritis. The severity of this disease can vary, as can its clinical manifestations. Patients should avoid catching colds in their daily life by staying warm and not seeking cool environments. It is important to maintain a distance from people who are already sick to avoid close contact. In terms of diet, patients should eat low-salt, low-fat, and high-quality low-protein foods, and control their salt intake, but not completely avoid salt. Also, they should avoid eating too much greasy and fatty food.

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Is IgA nephropathy grade 3 serious?

IgA nephropathy is divided into five stages pathologically, with stage three being the focal proliferative type. The higher the stage, the more severe the condition of IgA nephropathy. Stage three is in the early to middle phase, where generally the condition of the patients is comparatively good, and rarely worsens to uremia, belonging to the low-risk group. Clinically, patients with stage three IgA nephropathy often exhibit repeated occurrences of gross hematuria or persistent microscopic hematuria. Some patients may also experience varying degrees of increased urinary protein. Patients with this stage of IgA nephropathy rarely suffer from hypertension or renal insufficiency, but it is essential in daily life to avoid nephrotoxic drugs, prevent infections, seek medical attention promptly upon infection, and regularly follow up on routine urine and renal function changes. If the condition tends to worsen, active treatment should be pursued.

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Foods to Avoid with IgA Nephropathy

IgA nephropathy patients are a very common type of glomerular disease. For IgA nephropathy patients, it is crucial to adhere to a light diet, meaning they should avoid foods such as pickles, salted vegetables, kimchi, cured products, smoked products, and barbecues, focusing primarily on fresh vegetables and fruits. Of course, if IgA nephropathy patients also suffer from renal insufficiency, they must avoid various soy products including tofu, bean sprouts, soybean sprouts, mung bean sprouts, and nut-based foods. These foods contain a lot of plant proteins, which can increase the burden on the kidneys, leading to potential renal insufficiency. Additionally, they should not consume foods high in potassium, such as oranges, bananas, pineapples, etc. Therefore, it is essential for IgA nephropathy patients to be cautious with their diet.