With IgA nephropathy, understanding the chain reaction is important.
IgAN can often be a silent, unpredictable, and misunderstood condition.
These questions will lead you to answers that may help you better understand IgA nephropathy, how to manage living with it, and connect you with available resources.
What is the
chain reaction
in IgAN?
What are tips
for living with
IgAN?
What resources are
available for people
with IgAN?
Rethink IgAN
and look beyond
the kidneys
Researchers are studying its root causes to help us better understand how it develops and progresses.
IgAN (IgA nephropathy), formerly known as Berger’s disease, is not just a kidney disease—your immune system plays an important role, too. It triggers events in your body that can cause IgAN to develop. It also triggers inflammation that can cause IgAN to keep progressing. This may lead to irreversible damage to your kidneys.
Because IgAN is a progressive, chronic, autoimmune kidney disease, it can lead to loss of function and may result in kidney failure. This often leads to dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Understanding IgAN better is the next step in your journey
Understanding IgAN-
1.
Cheung CK, Barratt J, Lafayette R, et al. Targeting APRIL in the treatment of glomerular diseases. Kidney Int. Published online 2024.
-
2.
Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) CKD Work Group. KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease. Kidney Int. 2024;105(4S):S1–S150.
-
3.
Cheung CK, Barratt J, Liew A, et al. The role of BAFF and APRIL in IgA nephrology: pathogenic mechanisms and targeted therapies. Front Nephrol. 2024;3:1346769.
-
4.
Mayo Clinic Staff. IgA nephropathy. Mayo Clinic. Published August 10, 2022. Accessed April 11, 2025.
-
5.
Inker LA, Mondal H, Greene T, et al. Early change in urine protein as a surrogate endpoint in studies of IgA nephropathy: an individual-patient meta-analysis. Am J Kidney Dis. 2016;68(3):392–401.
-
6.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. IgA nephropathy. NIDDK. Updated April 2021. Accessed April 11, 2025.
Home