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Sequencing and Individualizing Treatments for IgA Nephropathy

Panelists discuss how treatment sequencing in immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy will likely evolve toward a risk-stratified approach, beginning with optimized supportive care and renin-angiotensin system blockade, then incorporating targeted therapies based on specific disease mechanisms and biomarker profiles before resorting to broader immunosuppression.

Evolution of Treatment Sequencing in IgA Nephropathy

Emerging Risk-Stratified Treatment Paradigm

The approach to IgA nephropathy management is evolving from a one-size-fits-all model to a personalized, risk-stratified framework:

Foundation Therapy (All Patients)

  • Optimized supportive care: Maximal tolerated renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade remains the cornerstone for all patients
  • SGLT2 inhibition: Increasingly incorporated as standard foundation therapy regardless of risk category
  • Comprehensive risk factor management: Blood pressure control, metabolic management, and lifestyle optimization

Risk-Based Treatment Escalation

Low-Risk Patients

  • Defining characteristics: Proteinuria < 1g/day, stable estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), minimal histological activity
  • Approach: Foundation therapy with surveillance
  • Monitoring focus: Detection of disease progression requiring therapy escalation

Moderate-Risk Patients

  • Defining characteristics: Persistent proteinuria 1-3 g/day despite supportive care, mild eGFR decline
  • First escalation: Targeted therapies addressing specific disease mechanisms
    • APRIL/BAFF pathway inhibitors for patients with elevated galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1)
    • Complement-targeted therapies for those with complement activation biomarkers
  • Sequencing principle: Mechanism-specific targeted therapy before broader immunosuppression

High-Risk Patients

  • Defining characteristics: Nephrotic-range proteinuria, rapid eGFR decline, crescentic features
  • Approach: More aggressive initial therapy, potentially combining:
    • Short-course corticosteroids for rapid anti-inflammatory effect
    • Targeted therapy for long-term disease modification
    • Consideration of multitargeted approaches addressing multiple pathogenic pathways

Biomarker-Guided Sequential Therapy

  • Initial biomarker assessment: Evaluation of Gd-IgA1 levels, autoantibodies, complement markers
  • Dynamic reassessment: Periodic biomarker monitoring to guide subsequent therapeutic decisions
  • Response-based adjustment: Sequential therapy modification based on the following:
    • Proteinuria reduction thresholds
    • eGFR trajectory stabilization
    • Biomarker normalization
    • Patient-reported outcomes

This evolving approach represents a significant advancement from traditional protocols, emphasizing precision medicine principles and mechanism-based therapeutic selection rather than uniform treatment escalation.

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