Symptoms and Complications
The kidneys play three major roles in regulating the body:
- filter urine to remove wastes from the body, keeping toxins from building up in the bloodstream
- regulate the minerals or electrolytes (sodium, calcium, and potassium, for example) and the levels of fluid in the body
- produce hormones that control other body functions such as blood pressure, bone maintenance, and the production of red blood cells
A common symptom of IgA nephropathy is dark or bloody urine, especially following a bout of physical stress such as a cold.
IgA nephropathy is not always a progressive illness. In many cases, people with IgA nephropathy remain stable, do not develop kidney failure, and are able to have their symptoms treated effectively.
Doctors have found that about 25% of those with IgA nephropathy develop chronic renal failure that progresses to end-stage renal failure.
Symptoms of end-stage kidney failure include:
- puffy eyes, hands, and feet (called edema)
- decreased urination
- high blood pressure
- shortness of breath
- fatigue
- headache
- loss of appetite
- nausea and vomiting
- thirst
- weight loss
- itchy skin
- muscle twitching or cramping
- a yellowish-brown tint to the skin
- confusion
- nosebleeds