IgA Nephropathy and Anemia
IgA nephropathy is a kidney damage caused by underlying immune disorder. It may cause many symptom related to various internal systems and organs. Anemia is also a common symptom that is common to see in patients with IgA Kidney Disease.
IgA nephropathy is called immune-related kidney damage, because it results from IgA immune disorder. In details, there is an inherent immune system in human body. It works to release various specific antibodies to fight against the antigens--virus and bacteria. However, in people with IgA immune disorder, the immune system fails to produce qualified or proper amount of IgA antibody. This causes the mix of unqualified IgA and virus, which is known as IgA immune complex. This kind of substance is easy to stay in kidney tissues, causing kidney damage. This is how IgA nephropathy happens.
How does IgA Nephropathy Cause Anemia?
Anemia happens when your body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. If you don’t have enough red blood cells, your organs and tissues may not get enough oxygen which worsens your kidney damage.
In people with IgA Nephritis, the most common cause of anemia is not having enough of a hormone called erythropoietin (EPO). In normal condition, kidneys work to produce enough EPO. When they are diseased, they make less EPO, causing less red blood cells production. This is how anemia happens in people with IgA Nephropathy.
How to treat the anemia induced by IgA Nephropathy?
If your anemia is caused by Kidney Damage, erythropoietin simulating agen therapy may be suggested. It helps signal your bone marrow to make more red blood cells. However, not everyone is okay for this treatment and you need to consult your doctor in advance.
To reverse the anemia completely, you need control the root cause of anemia--the kidney damage caused by immune disorder. In this way, your kidneys will recover to regulate the red blood cells naturally.
Immunotherapy is recommended, which is a biotherapy that reverse the immune disorder and use the new immune system to fight against the kidney damage. As long as kidney can work better, your anemia will be alleviated spontaneously.
