IgA Nephropathy Treatment in Sharjah
Medically reviewed by Dar Al Kamal Team
What is IgA nephropathy?
IgA nephropathy, also called Berger's disease, is the most common form of glomerulonephritis worldwide. IgA is an antibody your body normally uses to defend the lining of the throat, nose and gut. In this condition, an altered form of IgA builds up inside the glomeruli, the tiny filtering units of the kidney, and triggers inflammation there.
The course varies widely from person to person. Many people keep stable kidney function for decades with good blood pressure and protein control. In others the inflammation slowly scars the filters, so the aim of treatment is to protect kidney function over the long term and to spot the people who need more active immune treatment.
Who needs it
The classic clue is visible blood in the urine, turning it cola-coloured or pink, that appears at the same time as a sore throat, cold or chest infection. This timing is distinctive: in some other kidney conditions the blood appears a few weeks after a throat infection, whereas in IgA nephropathy it tends to coincide with the infection itself. Many people, though, are picked up with no symptoms at all, when a routine urine test at a health check, insurance medical or pre-employment screening in the UAE shows microscopic blood or protein.
You may be referred for assessment if you have:
- Episodes of dark or bloody urine during or just after an infection
- Blood or protein in the urine on repeated testing
- High blood pressure at a young age, especially with urine changes
- Swelling of the ankles or around the eyes
- A reduced kidney function result on a blood test
Other causes of blood in the urine, such as stones, infection or a bladder problem, are also considered, and some patients are assessed jointly with Urology.
What happens
Your first visit with the nephrologist covers your history, any episodes of dark urine, family history and every medicine and supplement you take. Blood tests check kidney function and salts, and urine tests measure blood and protein, often with a sample that estimates how much protein you lose each day. A kidney ultrasound is arranged through radiology to look at kidney size and structure.
A firm diagnosis of IgA nephropathy comes from a kidney biopsy, taken under local anaesthetic with ultrasound guidance. The biopsy confirms the IgA deposits and shows how much active inflammation and how much scarring is present, which guides treatment.
Treatment is built in layers:
- Blood pressure control, with a clear target set for you
- Reducing protein leak, using medicines chosen partly for their protective effect on the kidney's filters
- Kidney-protecting lifestyle measures: lower salt, a healthy weight, stopping smoking and avoiding kidney-harming painkillers
- Immune treatment for some people, when the biopsy and ongoing protein loss suggest a higher risk of progression, with the benefits and risks discussed fully before starting
The wider approach to inflamed kidney filters is described on the glomerulonephritis treatment page.
Preparing for it
Bring all previous blood and urine results, even older ones, together with any photos you took of dark urine and the dates of infections around those episodes. Bring every medicine, herbal remedy and supplement in its packaging, including protein powders and gym supplements, which are popular in the UAE and worth reviewing with a kidney specialist.
Write down your usual home blood pressure readings if you have a monitor. If a biopsy is planned, your nephrologist gives you specific instructions about blood-thinning medicines and fasting beforehand.
Afterwards
IgA nephropathy is followed up over the long term at Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah, with regular checks of blood pressure, kidney function and urine protein. The protein level is one of the most useful guides to how well treatment is working, so it is measured at most visits. Medicines are adjusted step by step, with blood tests after changes.
Stay well hydrated, especially in the UAE summer heat, and plan ahead with your nephrologist if you intend to fast during Ramadan. Where kidney function declines despite treatment, pre-dialysis education, planning and transplant evaluation are discussed early, with dialysis and transplantation arranged at specialist centres by referral.
Contact the hospital if you notice new dark or bloody urine, increasing swelling, frothy urine or higher blood pressure readings than usual. Call emergency services or go to the nearest emergency department if you pass very little or no urine, become breathless or develop severe weakness or confusion.
Cost and insurance
Most UAE health insurance plans cover nephrology consultations, blood and urine tests and ultrasound. Kidney biopsy and immune treatment commonly need pre-approval, and some long-term medicines are limited to a formulary list. Confirm your cover with Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah on 06 599 7777.
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Frequently asked questions
What causes IgA nephropathy?
IgA nephropathy is caused by an altered form of the IgA antibody collecting in the kidney's filters and triggering inflammation. Why this happens is only partly understood; it can run in families and often flares with infections of the throat or gut.
Why does my urine turn dark when I have a sore throat?
Dark or bloody urine during a sore throat is a classic sign of IgA nephropathy, because the infection stimulates IgA production, which inflames the kidney's filters. It should always be checked by a doctor, as stones, infection and other kidney conditions can also cause blood in the urine.
Do I need a kidney biopsy to diagnose IgA nephropathy?
Yes, a kidney biopsy is the only way to confirm IgA nephropathy, because blood and urine tests can suggest it but cannot show the IgA deposits. The biopsy also shows how much inflammation and scarring is present, which helps decide treatment.
What are the risks of IgA nephropathy and its treatment?
The main risk of IgA nephropathy is gradual loss of kidney function in some people, especially those with ongoing protein leak or high blood pressure. Blood pressure medicines can cause dizziness or changes in potassium, and immune treatment can raise the risk of infection and other side effects, so it is used only when the expected benefit outweighs these risks.
Can IgA nephropathy be cured?
IgA nephropathy is usually a long-term condition that is controlled rather than cured. Many people keep stable kidney function for many years with good blood pressure and protein control.
Will I need dialysis with IgA nephropathy?
Most people with IgA nephropathy never need dialysis, particularly when blood pressure and protein leak are well controlled. If kidney function does decline, your nephrologist plans ahead early and arranges dialysis or transplant assessment at specialist centres by referral.
Should my family be tested for IgA nephropathy?
A simple urine test for blood and protein is reasonable for close relatives of someone with IgA nephropathy, because the condition sometimes runs in families. Your nephrologist can advise whether any further testing is useful.
Is IgA nephropathy treatment covered by insurance?
Most UAE insurance plans cover nephrology consultations and tests, while kidney biopsy and immune treatment usually need pre-approval. Confirm your cover with Dar Al Kamal Hospital, Sharjah on 06 599 7777.
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