New Horizons in IgA Nephropathy: A Focus on Current Treatment and Emerging Solutions

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is a common form of glomerular disease, with wide heterogeneity of symptom occurrence and progression. Diagnosis is based on kidney biopsy findings. IgAN initiates in the mucosa with development of galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1) and anti-Gd-IgA1 autoantibodies, leading to deposition of these complexes in glomerular mesangium with resulting fibrosis, inflammation, tubulointerstitial scarring, and glomerular injury. This can lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD), kidney failure, and death. IgAN treatment involves optimised supportive care, including individualised strategies to address symptoms, such as high blood pressure control and cardiovascular risks. Drug treatment includes renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors and immunosuppressant therapies. While the latter can successfully lower proteinuria, and have a positive effect on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), adverse effects can limit treatment duration, and increasing proteinuria and decreasing eGFR can return following treatment discontinuation. New formulations of immunosuppressant therapies include delayed-release budesonide with targeted release in the lower part of the small intestine where Gd-IgA1 production occurs. Although treatment with this drug can reduce proteinuria and sustain eGFR levels, similar to other immunosuppressant therapies, effects seem to be predominantly limited to the active treatment period. Targeting a different mechanism, sparsentan is a dual endothelin A receptor (ETA) and angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1) blocker that targets endothelin-1 (ET-1) and angiotensin II, both involved in IgAN progression. Initial Phase III trial results show significant differences, favouring sparsentan, compared with the AT1 blocker irbesartan, on proteinuria, with similar adverse event profiles. These agents, and several other drugs in development, will widen the armamentarium of therapies for people with IgAN, which, when used in combination, can target different aspects of IgAN pathogenesis for a more individualised treatment approach.