The key difference between IgA nephropathy and post streptococcal glomerulonephritis is that IgA nephropathy is a kidney disease that occurs due to the accumulation of antibodies called IgA in glomeruli while post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis is a kidney disease that occurs after 10 to 14 days of throat or skin infection by Streptococcus bacteria, which leads to the accumulation of dead bacteria and antibodies in glomeruli.
Kidneys are vital organs in the human body. They filter fluid and waste out of the blood. The diseases that lower the ability of kidneys to clean the blood will harm the other parts of the human body. These health conditions can ultimately cause chronic kidney disease or kidney failure. IgA nephropathy and post streptococcal glomerulonephritis are two kidney diseases that affect kidney function.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is IgA Nephropathy
3. What is Post Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis
4. Similarities – IgA Nephropathy and Post Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis
5. IgA Nephropathy vs Post Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – IgA Nephropathy vs Post Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis
What is IgA Nephropathy?
IgA nephropathy is also known as Berger’s disease. It is a kidney disease that occurs due to the accumulation of IgA antibodies in the kidneys (most probably glomeruli). This causes local inflammation that can hamper the ability of kidneys to filter the blood and remove the waste. The exact cause of this disease is not known. But the following causes can be associated with this disease such as genes, liver diseases (cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis B and C), celiac disease, and infections (HIV and some bacterial infections). Signs and symptoms of IgA nephropathy include tea-coloured urine, visible blood in the urine, proteinuria, pain in one or both sides of the back below the ribs, swelling in the hands and feet, and high blood pressure.
Figure 01: IgA Nephropathy
Moreover, IgA nephropathy can be diagnosed through urine tests, blood tests, kidney biopsy, and iothalamate clearance tests. Furthermore, treatment options for IgA nephropathy may include high blood pressure medications (angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB), mega 3 fatty acids, immunosuppressants, statin therapy, and diuretics.
What is Post Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis?
Post streptococcal glomerulonephritis is a kidney disease that occurs after 10 to 14 days of throat or skin infection by Streptococcus bacteria. It is mainly seen in children. Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis is not caused by bacteria. But it is caused by the body’s infection-fighting immune system. After a throat or skin infection by Streptococcus bacteria, the immune system makes antibodies. The antibodies help identify and destroy bacteria. However, post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis leads to the accumulation of dead bacteria and antibodies in glomeruli. This causes inflammation that slows down glomeruli. Moreover, post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis makes it harder to generate urine and get rid of waste. The signs and symptoms of this condition may include blood in the urine, dark or brown urine, swelling around the eyes or ankles, urinating less often, hypertension, headaches, proteinuria, and tiredness.
Figure 02: Post Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis
Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis can be diagnosed through physical examination, blood tests for kidney function, and urine analysis for proteins. Furthermore, treatment options for post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis include a low-salt diet, medicines to bring down high blood pressure, medicines to encourage kidneys to get rid of salt and water, and antibiotics.
What are the Similarities Between IgA Nephropathy and Post Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis?
- IgA nephropathy and post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis are two kidney diseases that affect kidney function.
- Both conditions are due to the immune system attacking the glomeruli of the kidneys.
- Both conditions cause inflammation in the glomeruli.
- They can lead to the accumulation of antibodies in the glomeruli.
- Both conditions cause filtration problems.
- Moreover, both conditions cause proteinuria.
- Both conditions can be diagnosed through blood tests and urine tests.
- They are treated through specific medicines such as high blood pressure-reducing medicines and diuretics.
What is the Difference Between IgA Nephropathy and Post Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis?
IgA nephropathy is a kidney disease that occurs due to the accumulation of antibodies called IgA in glomeruli, while post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis is a kidney disease that occurs after 10 to 14 days of throat or skin infection by Streptococcus bacteria, which leads to the accumulation of dead bacteria and antibodies in glomeruli. Thus, this is the key difference between IgA nephropathy and post streptococcal glomerulonephritis.
The below infographic presents the differences between IgA nephropathy and post streptococcal glomerulonephritis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – IgA Nephropathy vs Post Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis
IgA nephropathy and post streptococcal glomerulonephritis are two kidney diseases that affect kidney function. In both conditions glomeruli, inflammation can be seen. However, IgA nephropathy occurs due to the accumulation of antibodies called IgA in glomeruli, while post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis occurs after 10 to 14 days of throat or skin infection by Streptococcus bacteria which leads to the accumulation of dead bacteria and antibodies in the glomeruli. So, this is the difference between IgA nephropathy and post streptococcal glomerulonephritis.
Reference:
1. “Iga Nephropathy (Berger’s Disease).” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
2. “Poststreptococcal Glomerulonephritis.” UpToDate.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Histopathology of secondary segmental glomerular sclerosis of hypertensive nephropathy” By Rishi Sharma, Surineni Kamalakar, Ellen McCarthy, Timothy A. Fields, Kamal Gupta, Rajat Barua, Virginia Savin – (2014). “Proteinuria in Hypertensive Nephropathy: A Review”. Open Journal of Nephrology 04 (02): 92–99. DOI:10.4236/ojneph.2014.42013. ISSN 2164-2842. (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Post-infectious glomerulonephritis – very high mag” By Nephron – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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