• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
  • Member Portal
  • Find a Nephrologist
IgA Nephropathy Foundation Logo
  • IgA Nephropathy Foundation Logo
  • About Us
        • MM About

          • About Us
          • Leadership Team
          • Board of Directors
          • Medical & Scientific Advisory Board
          • IgAN Go Global Network
        • MM About 2

          • Latest News, Media, and Tips
          • Our Partners
          • IgAN Ambassadors
          • Join The Newsletter
  • Events
        • Events

          • Calendar of Events
          • SPARK 2025
          • IgA Nephropathy Day
          • Rare Disease Day
  • Resources
        • MM – Resource 1

          • What is IgAN
          • Diagnosis
          • Understanding Your Lab Results
          • Understanding Your Biopsy
          • Understanding blood pressure and your kidneys
          • Treatment Options
        • MM – Resource 2

          • IgAN Info
          • Faces of IgAN
          • IgAN Risk Quiz
          • AAPI Higher Risk
          • IgAN Cookbook
          • IgAN FAQs
        • MM – Resource 3

          • Support Options
          • Patient Aid
          • IgANCare Program
          • Learn About Insurance
          • Patient + Care Partner Support
          • The IgA Nephropathy Foundation Ambassador Program
          • Caregiver Resources
          • Pregnancy and Family Planning
        • MM – Resource 4

          • Learning & Resources
          • IgAN+ App
          • Tools & Resources
          • Mental Health
          • Podcasts
          • IgAN Nutrition
          • IgAN Recipes
  • Research
        • MM Research

          • IgA Nephropathy Studies
          • IgA Nephropathy Research
          • Published Research Articles
        • MM Research 2

          • Clinical Trials
          • Considering a Clinical Trial?
          • View All Clinical Trials
  • Join
        • MM – Join 1

          • Become a Member
          • The IgA Nephropathy Foundation Ambassador Program
          • Ways to Give
          • Advocacy for IgAN
        • MM – Join 2

          • Join Our Newsletter
          • Patient Registry
  • Donate
  • IgANCare Program

General Information for the Public

IgA Nephropathy is one of the most common kidney diseases behind those caused by high blood pressure or diabetes. It occurs when IgA immunoglobulin—a protein that usually helps the body fight infections—becomes abnormal, causing it to settle in the kidneys and affect the kidneys’ ability to filter waste from the blood. While there is currently no cure for the condition, when caught early, steps can be taken to prevent or delay kidney failure.

Take the risk quiz

What is IgA Nephropathy?

  • IgA Nephropathy is a disease that damages the kidneys. It occurs when IgA immunoglobin—a protein that usually helps the body fight infections—becomes abnormal, causing it to settle in the kidneys and affect the kidneys’ ability to filter waste from the blood.
  • There is currently no cure for IgA Nephropathy, but common treatments include lifestyle changes, supplements, medications that lower blood pressure and cholesterol, medications that reduce inflammation, and/or medications that suppress the immune system.

Get The Facts

While IgA Nephropathy is a rare disease, it’s one of the most common kidney diseases besides those resulting from high blood pressure or diabetes.

The first symptom of IgA Nephropathy is typically blood in urine, but it may also show up as spikes in blood pressure, brown urine or an abnormal kidney function test. Diagnosis requires a kidney biopsy, or a doctor examining a piece of a patient’s kidney tissue.

An estimated 20% to 40% of people with IgA Nephropathy will develop end-stage kidney disease within 20 years of diagnosis and need dialysis or kidney transplant.

The percentage of kidney failure attributable to IgA Nephropathy is 5 times greater in Asian Americans than Caucasians and 15 times greater in Asian Americans than African Americans. Learn more

(References)

For information on the spirit days, click here:

View Spirit Week Details

Become a Member

If you or anyone you know is affected by IgAN, join as a member of the IgAN Foundation for free to receive various support benefits, including updates on all the latest news and resources, access to featured clinical trials, free mental health tools like Calm and Talkspace, support meetings, and more!

Please also consider donating to support our community of Warriors, care partners and more as we celebrate our 21st anniversary:

Donate

Risk Quiz

IgA Nephropathy is one of the most common kidney diseases behind those caused by high blood pressure or diabetes. It occurs when IgA immunoglobulin—a protein that usually helps the body fight infections—becomes abnormal, causing it to settle in the kidneys and affect the kidneys’ ability to filter waste from the blood. While there is currently no cure for the condition, when caught early, steps can be taken to prevent or delay kidney failure.

Learn if you’re at risk here

Brought to you in partnership with our 2025 IgAN Aware Day sponsors

Emerald

Advocates

Supporter

Special thanks to our Regional Event Sponsor

Donate
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Quick Links

  • About Us
  • Financials
  • Patient Resources
  • Research
  • Contact Us
  • Join Our Efforts
  • Privacy Policy

Contact Us

(848) 298-4618

PO Box 1322 Wall, NJ 07719

© 2025 All Rights Reserved.

IgAN Foundation Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter below!

First Name
Last Name
Enter your email address

No thanks, I’m not interested!

Spirit Week Details

Sunday, May 12: Where We Were and Where We Are 
The Foundation is celebrating how far the community has come in the last 20 years by comparing where we’ve been with where we are today. We encourage our IgAN family to highlight key moments from your IgAN journeys and celebrate how far you’ve come on the IgAN Day Kudo board or social media!

Monday, May 13: Mind-Body Connection 
IgA Nephropathy can be challenging, and cultivating a strong mind-body connection can help with self-care. We challenge you to take a moment to do one thing that makes you feel connected to your body and grounded, such as mindful meditation, enjoyable movement, eating a meal that fits your needs, or reflecting and checking in with yourself.

Tuesday, May 14: IgAN Awareness Day 
Over the last 20 years, the Foundation has grown our IgAN family, developing and sharing crucial resources. With 2 approved FDA treatments and many clinical trials in the works, our community is strong and full of hope! Today we celebrate everyone who has been a part of the Foundation’s 20-year #IgANjourney and invite anyone connected to IgAN to join us in working toward a cure, sharing support and celebrating a brighter future!

Wednesday, May 15: Risk Quiz
IgA Nephropathy affects Asian populations at a higher rate. The IgAN Foundation has worked to address this with our Risk Quiz and Facts Webpage for people of Asian descent. We urge our IgAN Family to share this Risk Quiz and raise awareness in their communities.

Thursday, May 16: Day of Gratitude
Support enables us to better manage life with IgAN. On this day, our community will honor anyone who has made life with IgAN better — whether that’s fellow Warriors, care partners, kidney donors, care teams, medical providers, or biological or found family. Please consider sharing a photo on Kudo or social media and thanking them for their support.

Friday, May 17: Looking Back, Moving Forward 
In the last 20 years, our IgAN Family has made tremendous strides in treatment, research, resources and support. We’re eager to continue advancing! We encourage everyone to reflect on Kudo or social media and post a milestone moment or Foundation benefit that sparks excitement or hope. That might mean new treatment options, attending an event, accessing Talkspace or Calm, or your own uplifting memory. Share what inspires you!

Saturday, May 18: Celebration Day
The future is bright! As we wrap up #IgANaware Spirit Week and embark on our year-long 20th Anniversary celebration, we invite our IgAN Family to gather in person! We’ll be hosting a celebratory event (details to come) — or you can find a list of events near you below.  Celebrate however you want — wearing your IgAN Day merch, spending time with loved ones, etc. — just be sure to share a photo on social media or Kudo and tag us!

References

  • Hall, Y.N., Fuentes, E.F., Chertow, G.M. et al. Race/ethnicity and disease severity in IgA nephropathy. BMC Nephrol 5, 10 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2369-5-10
  • Kiryluk K, Li Y, Sanna-Cherchi S, Rohanizadegan M, Suzuki H, et al. (2012) Geographic Differences in Genetic Susceptibility to IgA Nephropathy: GWAS Replication Study and Geospatial Risk Analysis. PLoS Genet 8(6): e1002765. doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1002765