Immunoglobulin A is an antibody. Antibodies will be produced when there is a
bacterium, virus, or toxin, invading into our body. In normal cases, these
antibodies will help fight these invaders. Due to immune dysfunction, IgA can
get into the kidneys, leading to inflammation. Eventually, signs like blood and
protein in the urine, high blood pressure, swollen hands and feet, etc will
occur. In western medicine, hormones are often used to treat IgA Kidney
Disease.
Patient with the disease may have an abnormal immune system or low immunity.
In these condition, IgA antibody will combine with the germs that entering into
the body, forming immune complex. Normally, these immune complexes circulation
through the bloodstream until being removed by the liver and other organs. In
IgA kidney disease, however, they become trapped in the glomeruli. During the
process of the body's ridding immune complexes, excessive immune response can be
caused, leading to renal injury.
Hormone treatment for IgA Kidney Disease
After hormones get into the body, they mainly function to restrain the immune
response so that the injury of renal inherent cells from immune complex deposits
can be remitted. Symptoms of IgA Kidney Disease may be alleviated within a short
period.
However, they do nothing to improve the damaged kidney function, so hormone
treatment is not a cure for this illness. What's worse, under this treatment,
patients may be haunted by some side effects, such as osteoporosis, excitement,
high blood pressure, upper digestive tract bleeding, etc.
Is there any way to cure IgA Kidney Disease? Actually, the crucial points for
curing the disease include an early diagnosis and prompt treatment. Patients
should find a systemic therapy which can help eliminate the underlying causes
through ameliorating the symptoms, inhibiting the abnormal immune response
rapidly, removing the deposition of immune complex, and recovering the renal
function. If the overall immune system gets well regulated, patients have great
chance to be eventually cured.