How Can You Treat IgA Nephropathy?
Currently, there is not an IgA Nephropathy Cure, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try and get a handle on this disease of you’re diagnosed with it. Some people can experience complete remissions from it and live normal lives while others can live normal lives and manage this disease along the way. Unfortunately, there are a few that will progress to renal failure and will be in need of a kidney transplant. Treatment with some medications can slow the progress of the disease and help manage the symptoms including high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and swelling of the hands and feet.
See the Right Doctors
Your general practice doctor should recommend you see a kidney specialist if they suspect you might be suffering from IgA Nephropathy. Even though there isn’t a cure, a kidney specialist could help you control this disease and monitor the progressions and growth of the IgA chains that can cause damage to your kidneys. There are different types of immunosuppressants that can be used and medications called ACE-inhibitors that can aid in slowing the progress of this disease in your body.
What Might Your Nephrologist Recommend?
The specialized kidney doctor you need to see is called a Nephrologist. They will remind you there is not currently an IgA Nephropathy Cure that you can look to for a solution, but they will give you some things that can help. Here are some of them.
Use diuretics to help eliminate excess fluids in the body
Low sodium diet to control edema
Anticoagulants to prevent blood clots
Blood pressure medication to lower blood pressure
Statins to lower the cholesterol level
A healthy diet including correct amounts of protein and fluid intake, lost of fruits and vegetables, and low saturated fat and cholesterol
Exercising
Not Smoking
Vitamins
What’s the Goal?
You might wonder what needs to be done if you’re faced with a disease with no cure. While there currently isn’t an IgA Nephropathy Cure that you can rely on, you do want to slow the progression of the disease that’s in your kidneys. You want to be in the group that eventually experiences remission or at least be in the group that can live with the disease and only needs to make adjustments to the diet, exercise, and daily habits. These are the goals for you with this disease.
What Happens Next?
With several studies currently ongoing, there might be an IgA Nephropathy cure in the future. You can join some of these studies if approved by your kidney specialist. It’s possible, your IgA Nephropathy could progress to the point of needing a new kidney. It’s important to keep clear communication lines open with your kidney specialist to make sure you can eventually take the proper steps and get on the transplant list as early as possible if needed. You can live with IgA Nephropathy if you take the proper precautions and work to keep your disease under control.