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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffThere's no cure for IgA nephropathy and no definitive way of knowing what course the disease will take in any particular person. Some people experience complete remission and others live normal lives with low-grade blood or protein in their urine (hematuria or proteinuria). But perhaps as many as half of those affected eventually go on to develop end-stage renal disease. For this reason, treatment of IgA nephropathy focuses on slowing the progression of the disease and preventing complications.
Medications used to treat IgA nephropathy include:
- High blood pressure medications. A common complication of IgA nephropathy is high blood pressure. Taking angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) can lower your blood pressure and reduce the amount of protein (albumin) in your urine.
- Immunosuppressants. Corticosteroid medications, such as prednisone, and other potent immunosuppressants may be used to help protect your kidney function. But, these drugs can cause a range of serious side effects, such as high blood pressure or high blood sugar, so their benefits must be carefully weighed against the risks.
- Omega-3 fatty acids. These beneficial fats, available in dietary fish oil supplements, can reduce inflammation in the glomeruli without harmful side effects.
- Mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept). This medication is still being investigated, but it has been used successfully in some people who have persistent protein in their urine despite treatment with blood pressure lowering medications.
In more-advanced cases, kidney dialysis or even a kidney transplant may be necessary.
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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