Is IgA Nephropathy Genetic

Several days agao, a foreign friend leave me message online. She said: My husband was diagnosed with IgA Nephropathy 6 years ago and my two daughter was diagnosed too 2 years ago. Now, my eldest daughter is 8 and showing symptoms. I was told IgA Nephropathy is not genetic, but why this happen in my family?

Actually, when I saw this message, I was shocked, as IgA Nephropathy is really not genetic at all. IgA Nephropathy is an autoimmune disease marked by deposition (mainly IgA deposition) in mesangial area. Because of these deposition, inflammation occurs and causes damages on surrounding kidney tissues. Since IgA Nephropathy is a immune -related kidney problem, the treatment should start from adjusting immune system and only when the abnormal immune system is normalized, can the problem be solved fundamentally.

From the point of view of immunology, IgA Nephropathy is an autoimmune disease. And if we see this disease from another point, it is a glomerular disease. Glomerular filtration membrane has function to filter blood and meanwhile keeps harmful substances like red blood cells in the body. When glomerular filtration membrane is damaged, red blood cells will leak into urine, causing hematuria. Therefore, hematuria is always the dominant symptom for IgA Nephropathy patients.

IgA Nephropathy is not a genetic kidney problem, but it does not mean children with parents suffering from IgA Nephropathy will certainly not develop this kidney problem. Children who have parents suffering from IgA Nephropathy may inherit the immunodeficiency from their parents. In theory, children with abnormal immune system and poor immunity are running high risk for IgA kidney disease and they suffer from this kidney problem more easily, so there is possibility for children whose parents are IgA Nephropathy patients to develop this kind of autoimmune disease.

At present, IgA Nephropathy can not be cured, so even if it is not a gentic kidney problem, it is necessary for children with parents suffering from IgA Nephropathy to prevent this disease actively.