IgA Nephropathy (Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy, Bergers Disease)

Blood and protein in the urineSwelling of the hands and feetRepeated upper respiratory infectionsIntestinal diseaseHigh blood pressureHigh cholesterolFatigueMuscle painFever Diagnosis Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. Tests may include the following: Urinalysisto test for blood and proteinBlood test Kidney biopsy removal of a sample of tissue or cells from the kidney for examination Blood pressure measurementCholesterol test TreatmentThere is no cure for IgA nephropathy. Your doctor will want to help prevent the condition from getting worse and relieve symptoms, such as high blood pressure. Talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include: Medications Your doctor may suggest the following medications: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors)to help lower blood pressure and decrease protein loss in the urineCorticosteroidsto provide relief for inflamed areas of the body Dietary ChangesYour doctor may want you to reduce salt and limit the amount of protein in your diet. You can limit protein in your diet by avoiding most meats, dairy products, and gluten. Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, rye, barley, and oats.

Control CholesterolIf you have high cholesterol, your doctor will want you to lower your cholesterol level. You can do this by making changes to your diet and exercising. Your doctor may also prescribe cholesterol-lowering medicine. Fish OilSmall studies suggest that fish may be helpful in IgA nephropathy. TonsillectomySome studies have shown that surgically removing the tonsils in people who have IgA nephropathy and have frequent infections in their tonsils may reduce the amount of blood and protein in their urine. Dialysis People who develop kidney failure as a result of IgA nephropathy may need to have dialysis . Dialysis is a treatment that performs the functions of natural kidneys when they fail. Kidney Transplant People who develop kidney failure as a result of IgA nephropathy may need to have a kidney transplant . During a kidney transplant, a severely diseased and damaged kidney is replaced with a healthy kidney from a donor. Prevention To help reduce your chances of getting IgA nephropathy, take the following steps: Manage your blood pressure and cholesterol levels: Eat a healthful diet, one that is low in saturated fat and rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.Exercise regularly.Maintain a healthy weight. Don't smoke. If you smoke , quit. Drink alcohol in moderation. Moderate alcohol intake is no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.Lose weight if necessary. Your doctor can recommend a safe weight loss plan and a reasonable target weight.Consider counseling, stress reduction exercises, and meditation to decrease the stress in your life.Take medicine. Your doctor may prescribe medicine to help lower your blood pressure and/or cholesterol levels.Tell your doctor if you have a family history of IgA nephropathy or other forms of kidney disease. This way, your doctor can watch for signs of IgA nephropathy. RESOURCES:

American Kidney Fundhttp://www.kidneyfund.org IgA Nephropathy Support Networkhttp://www.igansupport.org National Kidney and Urologic Disease Information Clearinghousehttp://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/index.htm CANADIAN RESOURCES: BC Health Guidehttp://www.bchealthguide.org The Foundation for IgA Nephropathyhttp://www.igan.ca References: Are you at increased risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD)? National Kidney Foundation website. Available at: http://www.kidney.org/atoz/atozItem.cfm?id=134 . Accessed January 13, 2008. Brenner B. Brenner Rectors The Kidney . 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2004. Corticosteroidsglucocorticoid effects (systemic). EBSCO Health Library website. Available at: http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=D39207C8-9100-4DC0-9027-9AC6BA11942Dchunkiid=26508 . Accessed September 20, 2005. Donadio J, Grande J. IgA Nephropathy. N Engl J Med . 2002; 347:738-748. Fish oil. EBSCO Health Library, Natural and Alternative Treatments website. Available at: http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=da29d243-e573-4601-8b42-77cd0ccb14b2chunkiid=21684 . Accessed February 5, 2008.

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (Condition in Brief). EBSCO Health Library website. Available at: http://healthlibrary.epnet.com/GetContent.aspx?token=D39207C8-9100-4DC0-9027-9AC6BA11942Dchunkiid=22827 . Accessed September 20, 2005. IgA nephropathy. DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.dynamicmedical.com/dynamed.nsf?opendatabase . Accessed January 13, 2008. IgA nephropathy. National Kidney Foundation website. Available at: http://www.kidney.org/atoz/atozItem.cfm?id=76 . Accessed January 13, 2008. IgA nephropathy. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse website. Available at: http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/iganephropathy/ . Accessed January 13, 2008. IgA nephropathy (Bergers disease). National Library of Medicine, MedlinePlus website. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000466.htm . Accessed January 13, 2008. Immunoglobin A (IgA) nephropathy. University of Virginia Health System website. Available at: http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/uvahealth/adult_urology/iganeph.cfm . Accessed January 13, 2008.

Kumar V, Fausto N, Abbas A, eds. Robbins and Coltran: Pathologic Basis of Disease. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2005. Last reviewed January 2008 by Adrienne Carmack, MDPlease be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.