Some studies have shown that steroids can decrease the risk of proteinuria in patients with IgA, but the overall benefit of steroids for this condition remains controversial. Then, why?

Steroids, namely adrenal cortical hormone, is a type of chemical substance found in the body. It is used to maintain body’s normal physiological operation, such as, adjust the metabolism of blood sugar, protein, fat and electrolyte. It is an important hormone which is essential to life. In clinic, steroid is a good medicine, and it can be widely used in the treatment of many incurable diseases. So it wins the name of "Elixir". However, it also has a lot of side effects, including stomach bleeding, infection, obesity, osteoporosis, swelling, cancer and so on. As IgA nephropathy is an autoimmune disease that affects the kidneys, all patients need to strengthen their immune systems to fight infections and cancers, but steroids knock that out. People on high doses of steroids are likely to die of its side effects.

In short, steroids have both benefits and disadvantages for IgA nephropathy patients. In order to ensure a safe dosage, you have to consult your doctor or leave a message to renal-disease@hotmail.com, and we will give you an individualized advice based on your illness condition.

Topic: IgA Nephropathy Treatment