IgA nephropathy life expectancy
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IgA nephropathy (IgAN), also known as Berger’s disease, is a chronic, progressive autoimmune condition marked by deposits of abnormal immunoglobulin A (IgA) protein inside the kidneys’ filtration units, called glomeruli. It is one of the most common glomerular diseases, although it is not a common kidney disease in the general population.
Individuals recently diagnosed with the condition may wonder, “Can IgAN get worse?” The prognosis, or outlook, for IgAN can be highly variable, but learning more about what to expect may be helpful.
How does IgAN affect life expectancy?
The most recent large study of IgAN life expectancy, published in 2019, found that the condition reduced a person’s expected lifespan by six years, on average, compared with individuals without the disease. Although this is a sobering statistic, it’s important to note that this finding was specific to people whose IgAN progressed to end-stage renal (kidney) disease. Additionally, many new treatment options for IgAN have been developed since this study, showing significant promise for improving survival in IgAN.
Why the outlook differs from person to person
IgAN prognosis can be extremely variable. While some people progress to renal failure, as many as 50% of people with IgAN may not experience progression or complications, and many do very well with supportive care. Many factors can influence the outlook. Some of those factors can be modified, while others are outside of anyone’s control.
How often does IgAN progress to kidney failure?
Within 10 years of diagnosis, the risk of kidney failure from IgAN is relatively low (approximately 5%-10%).
Estimates for longer follow-up periods vary widely, but approximately 20%-50% of people with IgAN may progress to end-stage kidney disease within 30 years of diagnosis.
As such, effective treatment to slow the rate of kidney function decline is extremely important, especially in younger people.
Factors that may improve or worsen long-term outlook
Some factors that may influence the long-term outlook in IgAN are:
- MEST-C score (a set of criteria that doctors use to evaluate changes to kidney tissue)
- how much blood is in the urine (hematuria)
- how much protein is in the urine (proteinuria)
- blood pressure
- current kidney function and how it’s changed since diagnosis
- overall health
- age
- gender
- racial background
How treatment can reduce progression risk
Kidney function naturally declines with age, so the goal of IgAN treatment is to slow the rate of decline until it’s as close as possible to the rate it would be without IgAN.
Supportive care for IgAN, such as lifestyle and dietary modifications and blood pressure medication, helps reduce stress on the kidneys, helping them maintain their function for as long as possible. Other, more aggressive treatment strategies directly target different stages of the disease process to prevent further damage to the kidneys.
All of these strategies can help prevent or slow disease progression and kidney decline.
What remission and relapse can mean
IgAN progression is not always straightforward. Many people with IgAN experience very slow disease progression, and with treatment, some people can enter remission (a period without disease). IgAN may be considered to be in remission if the patient is no longer experiencing hematuria or proteinuria, or has very mild proteinuria, and is maintaining kidney function.
However, IgAN can also relapse or begin to progress again, even if the patient has been in remission for a long time. Frequent monitoring of kidney function and proteinuria can help catch relapses early. If there is a relapse, a doctor may recommend trying a different treatment strategy to get the patient back into remission.
Questions to ask about individual prognosis
IgAN diagnosis varies widely and can differ from person to person. To understand an individual’s prognosis, they may want to ask their doctor questions such as the following:
- How severe is my IgAN right now, and how likely is it to progress?
- What treatments would you recommend?
- Are there any lifestyle changes I can make to help support my kidneys?
- How often should I get my kidney function and urine tested?
- What symptoms should I watch for that might mean my disease is getting worse?
IgA Nephropathy News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
