The Treatment of Primary IgA Nephropathy

Abstract

IgA Nephropathy (IgAN) is a very common glomerulonephritis worldwide, especially in Asia, which is an important cause of progressive kidney disease with 25-30% of patients developing end-stage renal disease within 20 years of diagnosis. IgA nephropathy can be in different age bracket onset, but mainly in adults. The treatment of primary IgA nephropathy we mentioned in this article is only for adults. The optimal treatment for IgAN remains poorly defined. The current treatment depends on the assessment of proteinuria, blood pressure, estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and pathological features, including antiproteinuric and antihypertensive therapy, corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents, fish oil and tonsillectomy. Compounded by the relative lack in IgAN of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs), there is no consensus on the use of corticosteroids, immunosuppressive agents, fish oil and tonsillectomy for treatment. The treatment of primary IgA Nephrology was reviewed from these aspects in this article.