Treatment Options for IgA Nephropathy

IgA nephropathy is a disease that affects the kidneys. There’s no cure, but treatments are available to manage the condition and delay or prevent kidney failure.

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy, also known as Berger’s disease, is a kidney disease that occurs when IgA, an antibody from the immune system, builds up in the kidneys. This can cause damage and inflammation to the tissues in the kidneys.

There’s no cure for IgA nephropathy, and once the kidneys are scarred, they can’t be repaired. However, treatment options are available to manage the condition. The goal of treatment is to prevent or delay the end stage renal disease, also called end stage kidney disease or kidney failure.

Learn more about treament options for IgA nephropathy, including medication, lifestyle modifications, and clinical trials.

There’s no cure for IgA nephropathy. Treatment is used to delay or prevent kidney failure.

Medication may be prescribed to:

• remove excess fluid from the blood
• control blood pressure
• suppress the immune system
• lower blood cholesterol levels

Most medications for the treatment of IgA nephropathy fall into two categories: non-immunosuppressive and immunosuppressive.

Non-immunosuppressive medications are used to prevent disease progression, while immunosuppressive medications are used to reduce inflammation.

Non-immunosuppressive medications

Non-immunosuppressive medications for IgA nephropathy include:

• angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors)
• angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)

These lower blood pressure and reduce the amount of protein that is filtered through to the urine.

Doctors may prescribe a diuretic together with these medications to make them more effective. A diuretic helps the kidneys remove extra fluid from the blood, which can also help with blood pressure.

Immunosuppressive medications

Sometimes a doctor will prescribe an immunosuppressive medication that helps control the immune system. Immunosuppressive medications for IgA nephropathy include:

• cyclophosphamide
• corticosteroids, like prednisone

Inflammation is an immune system response, and being able to control this immune response can help decrease inflammation that can damage the kidneys.

Other medications

Some people with IgA nephropathy may have high levels of cholesterol. Cholesterol is a type of fat that the body needs to be healthy, but too much of it can be unhealthy.

Having high cholesterol causes fat to build up in the blood vessels, raising a person’s risk of heart attack and stroke.

Medications called statins may be prescribed to help lower cholesterol levels.

A healthcare professional may make a variety of recommendations for lifestyle modifications to help manage IgA nephropathy.

Diet

Nutrition has not been shown to cause or prevent IgA nephropathy. However, a healthcare professional may recommend those living with IgA nephropathy make modifications to their diet to better manage their condition.

These dietary modifications may include:

• Limiting the amount of sodium in your diet. Sodium often comes from salt, and reducing salt intake will help lower blood pressure as well as reduce edema, or swelling caused by too much fluid.
• Following a diet that is low in saturated fats and cholesterol. This will help control high cholesterol levels in the blood.
• Shifting toward a plant-based diet.

A healthcare professional may also advise those living with IgA nephropathy to eat protein in moderation. When a person eats protein, the body breaks it down into waste that is filtered through the kidneys. Having more protein in the body than necessary may cause a greater burden to the kidneys and lead them to more quickly decline in function.

Supplements

Fish oil supplements that contain omega-3 fatty acids may help slow kidney damage by lowering blood pressure. They may also help reduce inflammation.

A person with IgA nephropathy should not take supplements without first speaking with their healthcare professional. Ask your doctor whether any supplements might be beneficial for you.

Other lifestyle changes

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help one manage IgA nephropathy.

Some of these practices include:

• exercising regularly
• limiting alcohol consumption
• maintaining a moderate weight
• getting enough sleep
• not smoking
• managing stress levels