Can IGA nephropathy affect how long you live?

IGA nephropathyAlso known as Berger’s disease, is a condition where immunoglobulin A (IGA) is built in the kidneys and causes inflammation. The condition can worsen over time, leading to renal failure, which can shorten life expectancy.

A study by the United States has revealed that people with IGA nephropathy lived about 10 years less than expected. The average age of death was there 66 yearscompared to 76 years in the general population.

The impact on life expectancy can vary depending on where you live and your history. For example, in Sweden, research has revealed that people with IGA nephropathy lived about six years less than the general population. The risk of death was the highest the first year after the diagnosis, and most deaths occurred after the development of kidney failure.

It is important to remember that these figures are averages of large groups of people. Your individual perspectives depends on many factors, especially if and when kidney failure, also called terminal kidney disease, is developing. About 1 in 4 people with IGA nephropathy develop kidney failure within 10 years. Many feel kidney failure in quarantine and fifties, which can shorten life expectancy.

Several factors can influence the way IGA nephropathy affects life expectancy. Some that you can control, while others that you cannot:

• Renal function for diagnosis: The way your kidneys work when you are diagnosed for the first time is one of the most important factors affecting life expectancy. People diagnosed with a renal function of less than 60 (measured by the estimated glomerular filtration rate or the EGFR test) are faced with much higher risks of renal failure and a shorter life expectancy. But people diagnosed early, before significant renal lesions occurred, tend to have better long -term results.
• Other health conditions: Having additional health problems such as diabetes or heart disease can create complications and reduce life expectancy. High blood pressure that is not well controlled can also advance the disease faster.
• Age to diagnosis: IGA nephropathy can occur at any age. People diagnosed at a younger age can have fewer health problems, which can mean better perspective. Older adults can deal with more complications and higher risks of kidney failure and shorter survival.
• Protein levels in the urine: If the tests show proteinuria or a large amount of protein in your urine, it generally means that your kidneys are more stressed. With the increase in stress, there is a greater chance that the disease aggravates more quickly. But the treatment of lower protein levels can protect your kidneys and improve your perspectives.
• Treatment response: Drugs that control blood pressure, such as angiotensin conversion enzyme inhibitors (ACE) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), are often used in IGA nephropathy to help protect the kidneys. The way you react to these drugs and other treatments can affect life expectancy.
• Lifestyle: Taking care of your overall health can help manage the Nephropathy of IGAs, reduce the risk of complications and potentially slow down the progression of the disease. The lifestyle changes that can help follow a low sodium content diet, maintain the weight you and your doctor have decided was optimal for you and do regular exercise. Avoiding smoking and limiting alcohol is also important for kidney health and your general well-being.

IGA nephropathy is progressively progressing, but it does not follow the same calendar for everyone. In some people, the progression is slow and stable, and they can live for years without serious complications. For others, the disease can worsen much faster, with kidney failure developing in a few months.

How will symptoms change as the disease progresses?

In the early stages, you may not notice any symptoms. Instead, many people are diagnosed during routine tests that show proteins or blood in the urine.

As IGA nephropathy is increasing, inflammation in the kidneys can lead to a drop in kidney function. You may feel symptoms like:

• Swelling in your legs, ankles or around your eyes
• High or higher blood pressure
• Hematuria (blood in your urine)
• Rose, dark brown or cola urine
• Foaming urine (sign of proteinuria)

If the disease progresses to a terminal kidney disease, symptoms may include:

• Severe fatigue
• Nausea
• Difficulty breathing
• Dry and itchy skin

How much will this progress?

Predict how fast IGA nephropathy will progress is one of the greatest challenges with doctors. They rely on renal function tests, urinary protein levels and kidney biopsy results to help estimate the risks, but these tools are not perfect. New research examines better ways to follow progression, such as blood or urinary markers and imaging tools.

Can treatment help slow the progression?

Treatments can help slow progression, but there is no remedy for IGA nephropathy.

Typical treatment: ECA inhibitors and ARBs are often the first line of defense. These drugs help reduce pressure inside the kidneys and reduce protein loss in urine, which can help slow damage. Lifestyle changes also play an important role in the management of the disease and potentially slow down its progression.

Other treatments: In some cases, immunosuppressants and steroids can be used if the disease progresses quickly. Some specialists prescribe drugs to statins to help protect the heart and blood vessels. If the renal function becomes seriously reduced, dialysis (a machine that filters blood) or a renal transplant may be necessary.

The future of treatment: New therapies that target different phases of the pathological process are also studied, which can help improve results for people living with IGA nephropathy. Talk to your doctor for clinical trials available.

A diagnosis of IGA nephropathy may have come with many strangers, especially from the start. Although this condition is serious, many people find ways to face and maintain good quality of life. You can try the following strategies to get support and improve your quality of life:

• Press family or friends for emotional support and practical help.
• Connect with support groups to talk to people who understand what you are going through.
• Talking to an advisor who works with people with chronic health problems can help you manage any feeling of concern, frustration or sadness.
• Journal, do gentle exercises or practice mindfulness to support daily well-being. Ask your health resources health team.
• Work with your medical team to establish routines for drugs and meetings that match your lifestyle.
• Focus on the things you can influence, such as following your treatment plan, making healthy lifestyle choices and staying informed of your condition.