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IgA Nephropathy is an auto-immune kidney disease in which the body produces IgA antibodies. When large amount of IgA and IgA immune complexes deposit the renal mesangial areas, the alternative pathway complement will be activated and renal damages will be caused.
There are many factors affecting the prognosis of IgA nephropathy including age of onset, pathological type, stage, severity of proteinuria, hematuria and hypertension, etc. Its prognosis has great heterogeneity from person to person. Some patients can have complete remission while there are about 15% to 40% patients will develop into chronic renal failure if not treated properly.
Besides effective and timely treatment, the prognosis is to a large degree up to the patients themselves. Reasonable health nursing cares can help IgA patients achieve a better prognosis.
1. Balance between exertion and rest. Over-tiredness and strenuous exercises can often aggravate hematuria, therefor IgA patients should have adequate rest and regular exercises and at the same time try to avoid staying up late, over-tiredness and strenuous activities.
2. Prevention of inflammatory diseases. Inflammatory diseases such as upper respiratory tract infection, skin infection, gastrointestinal tract infection, urinary tract infection and fungal infection are great risk factors for IgA nephropathy patients, therefore patients should have effective prevention and timely treatment once there is inflammation or infection. In case of hematuria induced by repeated tonsillitis, tonsillectomy can be done.
3. Spiritual adjustment. IgA patients are usually suffer from varying degrees’ mental stress, depression and pessimism, therefore spiritual adjustment is very important for them. Try to avoid mental stimulation and keep a good mood are all conducive for the remission and recovery.
4. Prevent colds. Cold is easy to cause the relapse and worsening of IgA, therefore patients can have regular and moderate exercises to enhance the disease-resistance ability so as to prevent catching cold.
5. Prevent renal insufficiency. The prognosis for elderly male patients is poor especially in those that have persistent hematuria with massive proteinuria or severe high blood pressure, therefore more attention and careful prevention measures should be given to them so as to help slow down the progression into renal failure.
