What can be done to prevent the disease?

There are no known ways to prevent Berger's disease.

What are the long-term effects of the disease?

Some people with Berger's disease, especially children, suffer no long-term effects. In other cases, the disease slowly gets worse over time. A person may develop high blood pressure due to the kidney damage.

Roughly 20% of people with Berger's disease will slowly develop kidney failure, which is the most feared long-term effect. Those with kidney failure need dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive. Dialysis is a procedure to filter the blood. It usually requires the person to be hooked up to a special blood-filtering machine three times a week. This continues for life or until the person gets a kidney transplant.

What are the risks to others?

Berger's disease is not contagious and poses no risks to others.