Is Dialysis The Best Choice For IgA Nephropathy

IgA nephropathy is one common auto-immune disease affecting the kidneys. Patients may have repeated gross hematuria or microscopic hematuria with or without various degrees of proteinuria. Some patients can have serious high blood pressure and develop renal failure.

When the clearance of creatinine is below 15 or creatinine is higher than 6, dialysis will be suggested especially if the patients have serious symptoms or complications. Dialysis can eliminate the risk factors that are threatening the patient’s life by relieving fluid overload and removing excessive electrolytes, creatinine, uric acid, urea and other wastes.

Dialysis has quick and obvious effects, for example, high creatinine can be brought down instantly after dialysis. It is a good choice for short-term treatment for IgA nephropathy. However it is not the best treatment for IgA nephropathy because it can not solve the root problems.

Dialysis is not enough because it can not discharge immune complexes and macromolecular wastes from the blood, more advanced blood purification technologies such as plasma exchange, immune adsorption should be combined to at least temporarily reduce circulating immune complexes in the bloodstream and create a favorable internal environment for more effective treatment and medicines to take effects.

When immune complexes in the blood circulation are removed, further deterioration of kidney damages can be prevented. However to repair the already damaged renal tissues, reverse illness progression and recover kidney functions, immune complexes that deposit in the kidneys need to be removed. Immunotherapy is needed. It has been proved to be very effective at treating renal immune diseases.

Immunotherapy consists of dialysis and other blood purification technologies such as hemofiltration, hemoperfusion, plasma exchange, immune adsorption, etc. But that is not all about immunotherapy. It also includes measures to repair renal damages, improve kidney functions, regulate immune system and enhance immunity.

Different from mere dialysis treatment, dialysis+blood purification+ immunotherapy will not make patients become dependent on dialysis. What is more, side effects will be greatly reduced and patients’ kidney functions will be gradually recovered.