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The exact pathogenesis is not clear until now and its onset may be related to many factors. At present the more consistent view is that IgA nephropathy is glomerular disease caused by immune complex.
From the perspective of immunology, more than 95% kidney diseases are caused by immune disorders. When foreign substances (antigens) invade the body, the immune cells will fight against these antigens and form immune complex. Under normal circumstances these immune complex can be cleared out of the body. However when there is something wrong with the immune system, these immune complexes can not be discharged and they will flow with blood circulation in the body. Since there are specific epitope in the kidneys and these immune complexes will deposit in the kidneys and cause abnormal inflammations and this will cause damages to renal intrinsic cells and tissues.
IgA nephropathy is characterized by the deposition of IgA immune complex in the glomerular mesangial areasand and in most cases there are also the deposition of C3, IgG and IgM. And in the immunological test, about half patients will have increased level of serum IgA and there is specific circulating immune complex containing IgA in 37% to 75% patients.
The deposition of IgA and other immune complexes will induce the mesangial cells to secrete inflammatory factors and these extreme inflammatory reactions will cause double damages to the kidneys.
As we know the root cause of IgA nephropathy is the disorder and dysfunction of the immune system, the effective treatments should have the functions of regulating immune disorders and improving immunity at the same time of eliminating blood in urine, protein in urine, hypertension and other symptoms which are just the manifestations of renal damages. So long as the immune system is rebuild, the body has the ability to remove these immune complexes out of the body.
