Many diseases impact how one’s kidneys function by damaging the glomeruli, which are the filtering units in the kidney that cleanses the blood. In 2011, our mom was diagnosed with Immunoglobulin A Nephropathy (IgAN).
IgAN is a response from your immune system to outside irritations like viruses and colds. The immune response is what affects one’s kidneys. Immunoglobulin A (IgA) is a type of protein that helps your body fight infections. The immune system responds to outside irritations by releasing IgA. IgA Nephropathy occurs when IgA protein gets stuck in the kidneys and causes inflammation. The inflammation makes the kidneys to leak blood and protein immediately and can persist over many years. This causes the kidneys to lose function and leads to kidney failure.
The causes of IgAN are not well understood. Some researchers believe that genetics may play a factor in causing the disease. Our mom has thyroid problems, which could have led to it as well.