IgA nephropathy, Symtoms & Diagnosis

IgA nephropathy (IgA nephropathy, IgAN) is also called Berger's disease, it is primary glomerular disease, glomerular mesangial IgA or IgA deposition mainly, with or without other deposition of immunoglobulins in the glomerular mesangium. The clinical performance is: Repeated episodes of macroscopic hematuria or microhematuria, may have varying degrees of proteinuria, some patients appear severe hypertension or renal failure.

The reason for having this disease

The pathogenesis of this disease has not been fully elucidated, it is possible to have relaxation with production and abnormal IgA clearance.

1.50% of the patients had their serum IgA levels increased, some patients looked like the immune complexes of circulating IgA in the blood.

2. Because toxin, bacteria and food proteins stimulate respiratory or gastrointestinal, mucosal IgA synthesis increased, IgA or immune complexes include IgA are deposited in the mesangial area, and activate the complement alternative approach, causing the Glomerular damage.

3. The same family member or HLA fellow countryman, it seems the multiple phenomenon of IgA nephropathy, explain that genetic factors play an important role.

Clinical

1.After illness begins, you always have infection of the upper respiratory tract, gastrointestinal or urinary tract.

2.More than 50%, patients appear hematuria macroscópica.30% ~ 50% of patients only appear hematuria microscopic, always hematuria sweetly a few days, then disappear, but relapse every few months.

3. You may have mild proteinuria.

4. Few suffer from acute nephritic syndrome or nephrotic syndrome.

Diagnosis

IgA is a diagnostic immunopathology, its confirmation can only depend on the pathological examination of renal. The confirmatory condition has three:

1. Immune fluorescence examination: it is necessary to diagnose IgA nephropathy. Always show that IgA mesangial area or IgA-based immunoglobulin, always has C3 and properdine factor, and may show little IgG and IgM.

2. The main IgA depocito in mesangial or vice mesangial, few can expand to glomerular capillary wall;

3. Needed to exclude other systemic diseases may cause mesangial IgA deposition, eg, purple nephritis, lupus nephritis and hepatitis.