Berger's disease (IgA-nephropathy): causes, treatment

Kidney pathologies are quite common. These include infections such as pyelo- and glomerulonephritis. In addition to these, there are other pathologies of the urinary system. One of them is Berger's disease. This pathology also refers to the frequent anomalies. It is diagnosed in about 20% of cases of kidney disease in men. This violation applies not only to the problems of nephrology, since it has an immune mechanism of development. To suspect this pathology is possible by the main symptom - macrohematuria.

Berger's Disease - what is it?

This pathology is a form of chronic glomerulonephritis. In comparison with the hypertensive and nephrotic variant of the course, Berger's disease has a more favorable prognosis. Despite the fact that she is diagnosed at an early age (15-30 years), she rarely passes into severe renal failure. The main manifestations of the disease are macrogematuria and unpleasant sensations in the lumbar region. This pathology can also occur in childhood. In the male population, it occurs four times more often than among women. As with all pathologies, the diagnosis is made according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Berger's nephropathy has the code N02, which means "stable and recurrent hematuria".

Causes of the disease

The main cause of the disease is the infectious process. Most pathology of the kidneys develops after the viral and bacterial infections. Also, the cause may be fungal diseases. Usually symptoms appear several days after the infection subsides in the upper respiratory tract (SARS, sore throat, pharyngitis). The immediate cause of the disease is the accumulation of immune complexes in the walls of the kidney vessels. In some cases, there is a link between pathology and a hereditary anamnesis (familial IgA-nephropathy). In addition, the disease is associated with a genetic predisposition. The following provoking factors stand out:

1. Subcooling.
2. Decreased immunity.
3. Chronic viral and bacterial processes in the upper respiratory tract.

The mechanism of the development of Berger's disease

The pathogenesis of the disease is associated with the deposition of immune complexes in the walls of blood vessels. Normally, the glomerular apparatus of the kidneys is responsible for filtering the blood. It consists of many nephrotic vessels. After the infection, the elements of the inflammatory process - immune complexes - remain in the body and settle in the glomerular apparatus. As a result, glomerulonephritis develops. Kidney vessels can not function normally due to immune complexes, and blood filtration is impaired. In addition, the inflammatory process causes accumulation of fluid (edema of the parenchyma) and reduces the permeability of the basal membrane. As a result, macro and microhematuria develop. The causes of these processes are damage to the renal glomeruli and the penetration of fluid (blood) through the basement membrane.

What are the symptoms of Berger's disease?

The clinical picture of Berger's disease resembles acute glomerulonephritis. Nevertheless, it is important to distinguish between these diseases. The cause of glomerulonephritis is most often staphylococcal infection. The methods of treating these diseases differ. The main symptoms of Ig A-nephropathy are:

1. Hematuria. Most often, it is this symptom that causes patients to seek medical help. Macrogematuria means the appearance of blood when urinating. Often this is accompanied by unpleasant sensations.
2. Microhematuria is a symptom that remains invisible to humans and is only detected in special samples.
3. Pain in the lumbar region. Most often they are dull aching in nature. Unlike other inflammatory processes in the kidneys (pyelonephritis), unpleasant sensations are observed on both sides.
4. Presence of a previous upper respiratory tract infection.
5. Raise body temperature.
6. General weakness.
7. Proteinuria is the appearance of a protein in the urine. It is noted in rare cases, with atypical course of the disease.

Diagnosis of Ig A-nephropathy

The main diagnostic criterion for Berger's disease is the chronic course. Usually, symptoms affect the patient 2-3 times a year, after the infection. It is also important to note that the disease is benign. Despite the periodically manifested hematuria, the kidneys state remains normal. Unlike other inflammatory processes (pyelo-, glomerulonephritis), with Berger's disease, chronic renal failure develops rarely.

Laboratory diagnostics includes OAK, OAM and special urine samples (Nechiporenko, Zimnitskiy). They are necessary for the detection of red blood cells and leukocytes. Depending on this, micro- and macrohematuria are distinguished. In the general analysis of urine, a protein can be present. To check whether there is a violation of kidney function, the patient must donate blood from the vein to biochemistry. In this analysis, it is important to know the level of creatinine that remains normal with Berger's disease. To make a final diagnosis, a test is performed for the presence of Ig A in the blood. In rare cases, a kidney biopsy is performed, in which immune complexes are found in the vascular apparatus. Ultrasound is also used for differential diagnosis.

Immunological inflammation of the kidney: treatment

Despite the benign course of the disease, during the relapses therapy is needed. It is needed not only to ease the symptoms of pathology, but also to prevent complications and preserve the functions of the kidney. Treatment begins with the sanation of foci of infection. Most often, antibiotics are prescribed for this ("Amoxicillin", "Cefazolin" drugs) and antiviral agents (medicines "Viferon", "Genferon"). In addition, to relieve inflammation in the glomerular apparatus of the kidneys, NSAIDs are necessary. Most often used drugs "Kanefron", "Ibuprofen." In diseases of the kidneys, medicines based on herbs are effective. Also, special decoctions and infusions (spores, birch cones, bearberry) are prescribed.

If the disease is not treatable, there are frequent relapses or complications, then hormonal therapy is performed. Usually prescribe the drug "Prednisolone", as well as cytotoxic drugs. In some cases, antiplatelet therapy, means for improving blood flow (medicament "Curantil") is necessary.

Prophylaxis of Berger's disease

It should be remembered that Berger's disease belongs to chronic pathologies. Therefore, in order to avoid exacerbations, it is necessary to carry out preventive measures. It is important in time to sanitize the foci of infection (tonsillitis, maxillary sinusitis), not to undergo supercooling. Also patients should periodically conduct courses of phytotherapy, support the immune system.