Case Study # 1

Iga Nephropathy Patient Returns

 Case #1: Iga Nephropathy Patient Returns ANSWER

4)      The fact that the patient was prescribed ACE inhibitors hints that he was experiencing severe proteinuria.  Speculate why his protein levels are not very high during this stage of the disease?

 As the glomeruli are attacked by the body’s immune system, they first lose their function of keeping out large proteins (>65000 KD) which leads to increased protein in the urine.  However, as the disease progresses and inflammation takes over, blood flow to the glomerulus is nearly cut off.  Hence, no plasma proteins can get in. 

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