Immunotherapy to Treat IgA Nephropathy

IgA Nephropathy is a glomerular disease caused by IgA immune complexes in mesangial area. When IgA immune complexes deposit in mesangial area, inflammatory reaction occurs, which can damage kidney tissues directly. Immunotherapy, as the effective combination of Chinese medicines and immunosuppressive agents, not only helps to block inflammatory reaction, but also shows great effects in clearing immune complexes.

IgA Nephropathy also can be called Berger's disease and is clinically manifested as blood urine. In IgA Nephropathy, as more and more immune complexes deposit in kidney, inflammatory reaction becomes more and more intense and consequently, more and more kidney tissues are damaged. Therefore, similar with many other kidney problems, IgA Nephropathy also develops to kidney failure if left uncontrolled. But fortunately, with Immunotherapy, kidney failure can be avoided effectively.

While treating IgA Nephropathy with Immunotherapy, immunosuppressive agents are used firstly to block inflammatory reaction. We know inflammatory reaction is the direct cause of kidney damages, so with the help of immunosuppressive agents, further kidney damages can be avoided. However, as long-term application of immunosuppressive agents always cause side effects like hair loss and poor immunity. These medicines are only taken for a while for IgA Nephropathy patients and once illness condition gets stable, these medicines are stopped.

In IgA Nephropathy, inflammatory reaction occurs because of IgA immune complexes, so the best method to prevent reoccurrence of inflammatory reaction is to clear these immune complexes away from kidney. Therefore, after the application of immunosuppressive agents in Immunotherapy, Chinese medicines are applied to improve blood circulation and to increase the immunity of our kidney to IgA immune complexes. These immune complexes do not belong to our kidney at all, so under the effects of Chinese medicines, immune complexes can be finally cleared away little by little.

In IgA Nephropathy, clearing immune complexes is the key point to stop it. However, in many countries, patients are only prescribed as some immunosuppressive agents to block inflammatory reaction. Although this helps to prevent new kidney damages, once patients stop or reduce the dose of medicines, inflammatory reaction occurs again and IgA Nephropathy relapses. However, with Immunotherapy, not only further kidney damages can be avoided, relapse of IgA Nephropthy also can be avoided effectively. Therefore, with correct medical treatment, it is possible for IgA Nephropathy patients to avoid kidney failure and dialysis.