IgA Nephropathy: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

When your immune system mistakenly attacks your kidneys, it can trigger IgA nephropathy, a chronic kidney disease caused by the buildup of immunoglobulin A antibodies in the filtering units of the kidneys. Also known as Berger’s disease, it’s one of the most common causes of kidney inflammation in young adults and often goes unnoticed until urine tests show blood or protein. This isn’t just a lab finding—it’s a slow-burning condition that can lead to high blood pressure, swelling in the legs, and eventually kidney failure if not managed.

What makes IgA nephropathy tricky is that it doesn’t always cause symptoms right away. Many people only find out during a routine checkup when their doctor sees blood in their urine after a cold or sore throat. That’s because the condition often flares up after infections. The real damage happens over years as those antibody clumps clog the kidney’s filters, letting protein leak into urine (proteinuria) and reducing the organ’s ability to clean your blood. It’s not caused by lifestyle alone, but things like uncontrolled high blood pressure or diabetes can make it worse faster.

Doctors track IgA nephropathy using urine tests, blood work, and sometimes a kidney biopsy to see how much scarring has happened. Treatments aren’t one-size-fits-all. Some people just need blood pressure meds like ACE inhibitors or ARBs to slow the damage. Others might need steroids or newer drugs like SGLT2 inhibitors, which were originally for diabetes but now show promise in protecting kidneys. There’s also ongoing research into drugs that target the immune system directly—like budesonide, which is already approved in some countries for this exact use.

What’s clear from the latest studies is that early detection matters more than ever. If you’ve had recurring blood in your urine after infections, or if you’re on long-term blood pressure meds with no clear cause, it’s worth asking about IgA nephropathy. You don’t need to wait until you feel bad—by then, it might be too late. The goal isn’t to cure it, but to keep your kidneys working as long as possible.

Below, you’ll find real-world guides on how to manage this condition, what medications help most, how to monitor your kidney health at home, and what to watch for when symptoms change. These aren’t theoretical overviews—they’re practical tools used by patients and providers to make smarter decisions every day.