IgA Nephropathy or Thin Basement Membrane Disease?
Without getting a renal biopsy, how can I tell if I have IgA Nephropathy or Thin Basement Membrane Disease (or something else)? Does Thin Basement Membrane Disease occur from birth or can it develop later in life? For the past 15 years I have experienced micro-hematuria, with occasional bouts of visible hematuria and severe back pain. I’ve seen GPs, Urologists, and Nephrologists and no one has mentioned either – they just say it can’t be explained, but I want an answer. I’m exhausted all the time, catch infections frequently, and in constant pain. I’ve had a clear ultrasound and an MRI. Thanks, but it’s not a matter of being afraid to get a biopsy, it’s that I can’t get one. They only do biopsies if you have loss of kidney function.
