5 Signs Your IgA Nephropathy May Be Getting Worse

IgA nephropathy, also known as Berger’s disease, occurs when immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies build up in the kidneys and cause damage. IgA nephropathy may not cause any symptoms for years or even decades, but certain changes may indicate that the disease is getting worse.

When the body encounters something that could make it sick, it produces disease-fighting proteins called antibodies. But for people with IgA nephropathy, their body produces more IgA antibodies than it should. These extra IgA antibodies build up and clump together in the kidneys, eventually blocking and damaging the glomeruli, the kidneys’ filtration system.

This kidney damage can lead to changes in a person’s urine. People with IgA nephropathy may experience:

For many people with IgA nephropathy, the amount of blood in the urine is tiny at first and is not visible. Healthcare providers often detect these changes in the urine during further testing.

However, these symptoms usually appear or become more obvious as the disease progresses.

The kidneys are responsible for filtering waste and excess fluid from the blood. When the kidneys cannot function properly due to damage, fluid can build up in the body, leading to swelling.

As IgA nephropathy progresses and kidney function deteriorates, people may notice swelling in their hands, legs, ankles, stomach, or feet. You may also notice that your face looks puffy when you wake up in the morning.

Fatigue is a common sign of kidney damage. When the kidneys are damaged, they cannot effectively remove waste from the blood. These wastes can build up in the blood over time, making people very tired or have difficulty concentrating. Another complication of kidney damage that can make people feel tired is anemia, a condition in which the body does not have enough red blood cells.

Some research suggests that about 45% of people with IgA nephropathy experience fatigue.

Unexplained exhaustion can be a sign of a serious illness, so it’s important to discuss this with your healthcare professional.

People with IgA nephropathy are at risk of developing high blood pressure (hypertension). Damaged kidneys have difficulty filtering waste and excess fluid out of the bloodstream, so fluid builds up and increases pressure inside the blood vessels.

High blood pressure is dangerous for heart health, but it also leads to further kidney damage (and therefore even higher blood pressure).

High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms, so it is important to check your blood pressure regularly if you have kidney disease.

In some cases, IgA nephropathy can cause so much damage that it leads to chronic kidney disease or a gradual loss of kidney function over time.

About 20% of people with IgA nephropathy will eventually develop kidney failure within 10 years of diagnosis. Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys can no longer meet the body’s needs. This is a serious illness and kidney transplants or dialysis (blood filtration treatments) may be needed to treat it.

In addition to urine changes, swelling, fatigue and high blood pressure, kidney failure can cause the following symptoms:

• Low back pain
• Blood in the stool
• Decreased appetite
• Metallic taste
• Nausea and vomiting
• Bruises
• Shortness of breath
• Confusion
• Seizures

IgA nephropathy may not cause any symptoms for years. But as the disease continues to damage the kidneys, you may begin to notice changes in urine and swelling.

Contact your healthcare professional if you develop signs of IgA nephropathy or kidney damage.

A doctor will likely run lab tests and review your symptoms to determine if you have IgA nephropathy. There is no cure for the disease. However, you can manage symptoms and slow kidney damage with medications and lifestyle changes, including: