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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffThe course of IgA nephropathy varies considerably from person to person. Some people have the disease for years with few problems. In fact, many cases may go undiagnosed. Other people develop one or more of the following complications:
- High blood pressure. Damage to your kidneys from IgA deposits can raise your blood pressure, and high blood pressure can cause further damage to your kidneys.
- Acute kidney failure. If your kidneys lose their filtering ability due to IgA deposits, waste products build up quickly in your blood. When this happens, you may need to undergo temporary hemodialysis — a procedure that cleanses your blood when your kidneys aren't able to do so. During hemodialysis, a needle is inserted into your arm through a special access point. Your blood then flows through the needle and tubing to a machine called a dialyzer, which filters your blood a few ounces at a time. The filtered blood is returned to your body through another tube and needle.
- Chronic kidney failure. IgA nephropathy can cause your kidneys to gradually stop functioning. In such cases, permanent dialysis or a kidney transplant is needed to sustain life.
- Nephrotic syndrome. This is a group of problems that can be caused by damage to the glomeruli, including high urine protein levels, low blood protein levels (hypoalbuminemia), high cholesterol, and swelling of your eyelids, feet and abdomen.
References
- IgA nephropathy. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/iganephropathy/. Accessed Sept. 21, 2010.
- Nephrotic syndrome. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec17/ch235/ch235b.html. Accessed Sept. 22, 2010.
- Barrat J, et al. Clinical presentation and diagnosis of IgA nephropathy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 15, 2010.
- Barrat J, et al. Pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 15, 2010.
- Donadio JV, et al. IgA nephropathy. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2002;347:738.
- Cattran DC, et al. Treatment and prognosis of IgA nephropathy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 15, 2010.
- Cheng J, et al. Efficacy and safety of glucocorticoids therapy for IgA nephropathy: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. American Journal of Nephrology. 2009;30:315.
- IgA nephropathy. National Kidney Foundation. http://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/iganeph.cfm. Accessed Sept. 22, 2010.
- Anderson CF (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 23, 2010.
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