IgA Nephropathy, referring to the inflammation of glomeruli, is characterized
by the deposition of IgA and other kinds of immune complex in the mesangial
area. It mainly presents the following symptoms.
First, symptoms of IgA Nephropathy
1. Gross hematuria
Gross hematuria usually occurs within 24 ~72 hours after the upper
respiratory tract infection. Sometimes, the patients are also accompanied with
systemic symptoms such as muscle pain, urination pain, back pain and low fever.
The blood red cells are mainly deformed red blood cells. After a few days, the
gross hematuria will develop into microscopic hematuria. However, the hematuria
usually reoccurs frequently when they encounter infections again.
2. Microscopic hematuria
In some cases, the patients with IgA Nephropathy have microscopic hematuria
with or without asymptomatic proteinuria. It is usually noticed when receiving
physical examination.
3. Proteinuria
Most of patients with IgA Nephropathy only have mild proteinuria and the
protein in urine is less than 1 gram in 24 hours. However, some patients may
develop Nephrotic Syndrome and can lose more 3.5 grams of urine protein in 24
hours.
4. Acute nephritic syndrome
Only a minority of patients with IgA Nephropathy may develop acute nephritic
syndrome. They may have a mass of protein in urine, persistent gross hematuria,
and edema, mild or moderate high blood pressure. What’s worse, their renal
function may decline drastically only in several days.
Second, prognosis of IgA Nephropathy
Generally speaking, the prognosis of IgA Nephropathy is good. Its prognosis
mainly depends on the following factors.
1. Usually, the prognosis of male patients with IgA Nephropathy is bad.
Moreover, the elder the patients are, the worse its prognosis will be.
2. The prognosis of the patients with frequent gross hematuiria is bad.
3. If the patients are accompanied with a mass of protein in urine, the
prognosis is bad.
4. If the blood pressure is beyond control, the prognosis of IgA Nephropathy
is bad.
5. The patients with serious pathological changes, its prognosis is
worse.
In addition, the location of immune complex also affects the prognosis of IgA
Nephropathy. The patients with deposition both in mesangial area and capillary
wall have a worse prognosis than those only have deposition in the mesangial
area.