How does one get IgA Nephropathy?
At present, we dont know how the disease is contracted, or how it develops, or how to protect ourselves against it. We do know that it is not contagious. Its development may be linked to possible genetic defects in immune response or immune-complex clearance. By themselves, these do not cause disease. Some type of antigen must be present in the body, perhaps bacterial (streptococcus), or viral (influenzas of certain type), or endogenous (produced by the body itself). Genetic programming, however, may make some individuals more susceptible to developing IgAN upon exposure to certain antigens. People who have IgAN rarely have a history of kidney disease in their family. Often, however, there is a personal or family history of other immunologically-mediated disorders, such as psoriasis, asthma, or celiac-sprue, especially if these have been treated with such immunosuppressive medications as corticosteroids. If the familys medical history includes such disorders, or if other family members