Patient's question:
How is IgA nephropathy classified? What are the types? Which type is more severe?Doctor's answer:
There are many types of kidney diseases, such as acute and chronic glomerulonephritis, hidden nephritis, allergic purpura nephritis, pyelonephritis, and various other kidney diseases like IgA nephropathy, membranous nephropathy, renal hypertension, lupus nephritis, gouty nephropathy, diabetic nephropathy, nephrotic syndrome, hydronephrosis, renal cysts, and congenital polycystic kidney disease. All of these can progress to renal failure—uremia. They are all types of kidney diseases.Advice: Currently, the treatment of kidney diseases is generally considered to be more effective with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) than Western medicine. Western medicine primarily uses hormone therapy to treat various types of glomerulonephritis, nephritis, and nephrotic syndrome. However, hormone therapy has strong masking effects on the condition, significant side effects, and a high recurrence rate. For the treatment of renal failure—uremia, in addition to dialysis and kidney transplantation, there is still a lack of more ideal methods. Moreover, dialysis can only maintain life but does not address the root cause and is prone to dependence. Furthermore, kidney transplantation has a relatively low success rate, and rejection reactions are difficult to resolve in the short term. Added to this is the high cost, which often makes patients reluctant to pursue this option.
TCM, on the other hand, is different. On one hand, it offers significant efficacy and a low recurrence rate. On the other hand, it is painless, has no toxic side effects, and is cost-effective. Therefore, currently, the treatment of kidney diseases and uremia with TCM is on par with some technologically advanced countries.
In summary: While kidney diseases are difficult to treat, they are not incurable. As long as the key to treatment is grasped and medication is used reasonably, ideal results can certainly be achieved.