Berger Disease

Definition

Definition of Berger Disease
IgA nephropathy (nuh-FROP-uh-the) is a common kidney disease that occurs when an antibody called immunoglobulin A (IgA) lodges in your kidneys. This hampers your kidneys' ability to filter waste, excess water and electrolytes from your blood. Over time, IgA nephropathy - also called Berger's disease - can lead to blood and protein in your urine, high blood pressure, and swollen hands and feet.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Berger Disease
IgA nephropathy usually doesn't cause symptoms in the early stages. The disease can go unnoticed for decades and is sometimes first suspected when routine tests reveal protein and red blood cells in your urine.

Signs and symptoms of IgA nephropathy include:

1. Cola- or tea-colored urine (caused by red blood cells in the urine)
2. Repeated episodes of cola- or tea-colored urine, sometimes even visible blood in your urine, usually during or following an upper respiratory infection
3. Pain in your side(s)
4. Foam in the toilet water from protein in your urine
5. Swelling (edema) in your hands and feet
6. High blood pressure
7. Low-grade fever

Causes

Causes of Berger Disease
Your kidneys are two bean-shaped, fist-sized organs located at the small of your back, one on each side of your spine. Each kidney contains tiny blood vessels (glomeruli) that filter waste and excess water from your blood as it passes through your kidneys. The filtered blood re-enters your bloodstream, while the waste material passes into your bladder and out of your body when you urinate.

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is an antibody that plays a key role in your immune system by attacking invading pathogens. But in IgA nephropathy, this antibody collects in the glomeruli, gradually affecting their filtering ability.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Berger Disease

1. Urine test: Blood or protein in the urine may be the first sign of IgA nephropathy. This may be discovered as part of a routine checkup with your doctor. If your doctor suspects that you have problems with your kidneys, you may need to collect your urine for a 24-hour period for additional kidney function tests.
2. Blood tests: If you have IgA nephropathy, a blood test may show increased levels of the waste product creatinine in your blood. Sometimes the level of IgA in your blood also is elevated.
3. Kidney biopsy: The only way for your doctor to confirm a diagnosis of IgA nephropathy is with a kidney biopsy. This procedure involves using a special biopsy needle to extract small pieces of kidney tissue for microscopic examination to determine if there are IgA deposits in the glomeruli.

Treatment

Treatment of Berger Disease
There's no cure for IgA nephropathy and no definitive way of knowing what course the disease will take in any particular person. Some people experience complete remission and others live normal lives with low-grade blood or protein in their urine (hematuria or proteinuria). But perhaps as many as half of those affected eventually go on to develop end-stage renal disease. For this reason, treatment of IgA nephropathy focuses on slowing the progression of the disease and preventing complications.

Prognosis

Prognosis of Berger Disease
Consult with your doctor.

Prevention

Prevention of Berger Disease
Because the cause of IgA nephropathy isn't known, it's not possible to prevent it. If you have a family history of IgA nephropathy, talk with your doctor to find out what steps you can take to keep your kidneys healthy, such as reducing high blood pressure and keeping your cholesterol at optimal levels.