ENKIKnowledge libraryConditions
What is IgA nephropathy?
IgA nephropathy, also called IgAN or Berger disease, is a kidney disease in which IgA-containing immune deposits build up in the glomeruli, the kidney's filtering units. The resulting inflammation can allow blood and protein to leak into urine.
This guide helps you understand terms and prepare questions. It cannot diagnose a condition or tell you to change treatment. Seek local medical care for urgent or severe symptoms.
Start here
Three points to keep
- IgA nephropathy affects people very differently.
- Blood and protein in urine are common clues, but diagnosis often requires kidney biopsy.
- Proteinuria, blood pressure, eGFR trend, and biopsy findings help guide care.
What happens in the kidneys
IgA is an antibody involved in immune defense. In IgA nephropathy, abnormal immune complexes containing IgA become trapped in the glomeruli and trigger inflammation. The disease is not caused by a person eating the wrong food or failing to take care of themselves.
Some people have stable kidney function for many years. Others develop persistent proteinuria, high blood pressure, scarring, and progressive loss of filtration.
Signs and diagnosis
Possible signs include microscopic blood found on testing, visible tea- or cola-colored urine—sometimes during or soon after an infection—protein in urine, swelling, or high blood pressure. Some people have no symptoms.
Blood and urine tests show the kidney effects but do not by themselves prove IgA nephropathy. A kidney biopsy is commonly used to confirm the diagnosis and assess the pattern of injury when the result will affect management.
What clinicians monitor
No single symptom or laboratory result predicts an exact course. Risk assessment is repeated as new information becomes available.
- Urine protein or albumin and how it changes with treatment
- eGFR and creatinine trend
- Blood pressure using a consistent measurement method
- Visible blood episodes, swelling, and other clinical events
- Biopsy findings and risk tools when appropriate
Treatment is individualized
Care commonly starts with supportive measures that reduce kidney and cardiovascular risk, including blood-pressure and proteinuria management. Additional medicine may be considered by a nephrologist based on persistent risk, kidney function, biopsy context, benefits, and harms.
Immunosuppressive treatment is not suitable for everyone and should never be started, stopped, or changed without specialist guidance. New visible blood with reduced urine, marked swelling, breathlessness, or acute illness needs prompt assessment.
For your next visit
Questions worth taking with you
- 01What features confirm my diagnosis, and what did the biopsy show?
- 02Which result best reflects my current risk: proteinuria, eGFR trend, blood pressure, or a combination?
- 03What would make us change the monitoring or treatment plan?
Evidence trail
Sources
ENKI prioritizes current clinical guidelines and public-health sources. Links open on the publisher's website.
Published by the ENKI Health Editorial Team under our editorial policy.