Experts highlighted delayed diagnosis as a major gap in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) care, particularly because clinicians who first encounter these patients may have limited exposure to glomerular disease. IgAN can follow widely different courses, from decades of stability to rapid progression, making early recognition and risk stratification especially important. Yet, patients in the United States may not be referred until chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 3 or 4, after substantial kidney damage has occurred. The panel emphasized the need for greater education not only among nephrologists but also among primary care clinicians, family physicians, urologists, and OB-GYNs who may be the first to identify signs of disease.
Routine urinalysis could play an important role in closing this gap. The panel noted that microscopic hematuria with low-grade proteinuria may be more common than the classic presentation of visible hematuria associated with an infection, yet asymptomatic hematuria is often overlooked or attributed to conditions such as urinary tract infections. Greater use of inexpensive urinalysis screening, a higher index of suspicion, appropriate follow-up, and earlier referral could help identify IgAN before advanced CKD develops. The experts also supported specialized glomerular disease centers to improve access to current expertise as treatment options continue to expand.
Reference: HCPLive. Gaps in IgAN Care: Early Detection, Screening, and Referral. HCPLive. Published July 28, 2026. Accessed August 20, 2026. https://www.hcplive.com/view/gaps-in-igan-care-early-detection-screening-and-referral
Link: https://www.hcplive.com/view/gaps-in-igan-care-early-detection-screening-and-referral
