CORE Kidney

Diagnosis and Management

Disclaimer: The UCLA Health System cannot guarantee the accuracy of such information. The information is provided without warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please speak to your Physician before making any changes. 

Diagnosis

  • A kidney biopsy is required for a concrete IgAN diagnosis. In this case, the kidney biopsy involves removing a small portion of tissue from the kidneys to assess the presence of IgA deposits.
  • Simple blood and urine tests may be performed if IgAN is suspected. A simple urine test can identify abnormal levels of protein and blood in the urine, and a simple blood test can detect creatinine levels (with high creatinine indicating declining kidney function). The criteria that these tests measure often overlap with other kidney diseases, so they do not provide a definite IgAN diagnosis. A biopsy is required to further confirm the diagnosis.

Standard Therapies, Treatment, and Management

While there is no cure for IgAN currently, symptoms can be controlled to prevent IgAN from progressing. Because IgAN can progress to chronic kidney disease (CKD), it is important for patients to follow treatments that target the symptoms of CKD. Treatments that target the symptoms of IgAN may include blood pressure medication, ACE Inhibitors, ARBs, Non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers, aldosterone antagonists, beta-blockers, and dietary/lifestyle changes. Living a healthy lifestyle and employing a kidney-healthy diet could slow the progression of kidney disease. 

Currently, five FDA-approved medications target IgAN– Fabhalta, Tarpeyo, Filspari, Vanrafia (atrasentan), and Voyxact (sibeprenlimab).

Approximately 20-40% of individuals with IgAN may progress to end-stage renal failure within 10 - 20 years of diagnosis. If a patient progresses to end-stage renal failure, dialysis or kidney transplantation is needed for the patient’s survival.