Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is a protein that is part of the immune system's
defense against infection. In children with IgA Nephropathy, the protein forms
deposits in the kidneys, interfering with their function. How does your child
develop this kidney disease?
IgA Nephropathy is a kind of autoimmune disease. With an abnormal immune
system or low immunity, your child is very likely to be affected by an infection
or fever. In this case, antigens such as bacteria or virus can enter into the
body easily.
There is a set of inherent immune system in our body which can fight against
these invaders. With weak immune ability, IgA antibodies produced by the immune
system fails to defeat these antigens, but combine with them, forming antigen -
antibody immune complex. The immune system will circulate in the blood.
In our kidneys, there are special epitopes that can attract immune complex,
so the IgA immune complex will deposit in the mesangial area of the kidney. In
order to remove these pathogenic foreign body, our body will produce series of
immune reaction. Since these harmful substances are very stubborn to be
eliminated, the immune reaction will become more and more tense, thus eventually
leading to the occurrence of hypersensitivity.
Due to hypersensitivity, healthy renal intrinsic cells and tissues are
damaged and the glomerular filtration membrane is impaired. With increased
permeability of glomerular basement membrane, macro-molecules that should
normally be restrained within the blood, such as red blood cells and protein,
will be spilt out into the urine. Your child may develop symptoms like hematuria
and urine protein.
Children who develop this illness have a 5~10 percent chance of developing
total Renal Failure. So early detection and prompt treatment is of great
importance. The treatment we adopt should help us inhibit the excessive immune
reaction, clear up the IgA immune complex, restore the kidney function, and
regulate the immune system. In this way, the patient can recover from IgA
Nephropathy successfully.