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IgA Nephropathy and IgA Vasculitis

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Primer on Nephrology

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Abstract

IgA nephropathy is the commonest reported cause of primary glomerulonephritis worldwide. Its incidence peaks among young adults, and 30% of patients progress to end-stage renal disease within 20 years of diagnosis. Risk stratification of patients at diagnosis is a challenge; however, a specific set of clinicopathological parameters has been described that may help predict the risk of progression and identify patients suitable for recruitment into clinical trials of new therapies. Management of at risk patients is currently limited to optimisation of supportive measures including initiation of renin-angiotensin system blockers and blood pressure control. The evidence for management beyond this is limited. A number of clinical trials of novel therapeutic agents are underway and may provide new options for managing progressive disease. IgA vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein purpura) is closely related to IgA nephropathy and when nephritis is present is indistinguishable from IgA nephropathy on renal biopsy. It is a multisystem disease that can affect the skin, joint, gut and kidney. The condition can be self-limiting, and management with immunosuppression is usually instigated only in cases of rapid renal function decline.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Leicester, Leicester, UK

    Chee Kay Cheung

  2. The John Walls Renal Unit, Leicester General Hospital, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester, UK

    Haresh Selvaskandan & Jonathan Barratt

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  1. Haresh Selvaskandan
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  2. Chee Kay Cheung
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  3. Jonathan Barratt
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Correspondence to Jonathan Barratt .

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  1. Department of Renal Medicine, UCL, London, UK

    Mark Harber

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Selvaskandan, H., Cheung, C.K., Barratt, J. (2022). IgA Nephropathy and IgA Vasculitis. In: Harber, M. (eds) Primer on Nephrology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76419-7_24

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-76419-7_24

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