IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is a rare kidney condition that occurs when a protein called Immunoglobulin A (IgA) gets ‘trapped’ in the filters of your child’s kidneys and causes inflammation and damage. This affects their kidneys’ ability to clear waste from their body.
IgAN affects around 1 in 50,000 people in the UK. It is one of the most common causes of damage to the filters of the kidneys and can cause kidney failure. Boys are more likely to be affected than girls.
IgAN was previously called Berger’s disease.
It is related to another condition called IgA vasculitis, (previously known as Henoch Schonlein Purpura or HSP) that can affect the skin, gut and joints, as well as the kidneys.
About IgA nephropathy
IgA nephropathy is a type of glomerulonephritis, a group of conditions that affect the kidneys. Inside the kidneys, there are many tiny filters called glomeruli. They help to remove extra water, salt and waste, which are passed out of the body as urine. They also make sure the body keeps what it needs, such as blood cells, protein and other important chemicals. In glomerulonephritis, the glomeruli become inflamed (swollen) or damaged. This causes both blood and protein to leak into the urine.
Although it is rare and does not affect many people, IgA nephropathy is the most common type of glomerulonephritis in developed countries such as the UK. It happens in people of all ages, though it is most often diagnosed (identified) in people under 30 years of age, especially older children and teenagers. IgA, a protein made by the body, gets ‘trapped’ in the glomeruli, causing damage.
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