IgA nephropathy
Alamartine, E.
La Revue du Praticien 53(18): 2023-2026
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-2640 PMID: 15008216 Document Number: 559451
IgA nephropathy is quite a common disease with an annual incidence around 25 per 10(6) inhabitants. It occurs in young adults and its progression is rather indolent, leading to a 20-30% incidence of end stage renal failure within 20 years of evolution. Gross hematuria is classic but far less frequent than microscopic hematuria or proteinuria. Therefore, routine screening remains essential. It is still very difficult to establish the eventual outcome and patients must remain under medical control for a lifetime. The amount of proteinuria, arterial hypertension and pathological damage are the major prognostic factors. The control of first two should be a permanent goal of the treatment, in which ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor antagonists play a central role. High-risk patients will benefit from steroid and immunosuppressive therapy.