IgAN Awareness Day is your chance to increase knowledge and understanding about this rare condition. Learn how to get involved.

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is an autoimmune condition that causes antibodies to build up in the small blood vessels of your kidneys. Over time, it can reduce your kidney function and lead to end stage renal disease.

The rate of new cases of IgAN is about 2.5 per 100,000 each year. That’s the global average, but the rates are highest in Asia and somewhat lower in the United States and Europe.

Having IgAN can mean living with physical symptoms such as pain and fatigue. Many people also notice that it affects their mental health. Raising awareness of IgAN can contribute to increased research, knowledge, and understanding, potentially leading to greater support for people who have this condition.

Here’s what you can do to mark IgAN Awareness Day.

You can elevate the daily scroll for others by adding positive messages of awareness about IgAN to your feed.

NephCure is one organization that makes the job easy with a social media toolkit. The kit provides simple and shareable graphics, hashtags, essential information about IgAN, and prewritten messages you can use.

Here’s an example of a post NephCure suggested for 2025:

“I support IgAN Awareness Day and all who are affected by this silent but serious rare kidney disease.”

Of course, you can make it your own by:

  • sharing pictures of yourself as an IgAN advocate in the real world
  • reposting media from others who are spreading the word
  • commenting on and liking the posts of other advocates across X, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok

Organizations dedicated to IgAN host events for Awareness Day. In 2025, NephCure’s event roster featured speakers representing different parts of the IgAN community: a doctor who treats people with IgAN, a teen navigating life with IgAN, and her caregiver mother.

The IgA Nephropathy Foundation hosted a Spirit Week to bring out the energy for people living with IgAN. Over several days, they promoted events such as a chronic disease webinar, a day of gratitude, and partnerships with Major League Baseball at parks across the country.

If you have IgAN, you might want to mark this day by sharing how the condition affects your life. Consider social media posts, casual conversations with friends, and chats at IgAN Awareness Day events.

You can also become a patient advocate through an IgAN organization. For example:

Opportunities are also available for those who want to influence public policy and advance the cause of people with IgAN. The NephCure Action Network is one example of an active, community-driven initiative working for change.

By connecting with others affected by IgAN, you can find support and inspiration. It’s also a great way to gather information about IgAN so you can better advocate for yourself and others, on IgAN Awareness Day and every day.

The IgA Nephropathy Foundation hosts separate virtual support groups monthly for caregivers and people with IgAN. These groups provide safe spaces for people to discuss their experiences.

The National Kidney Foundation also has several online discussion forums about chronic kidney disease, where people can ask questions and share input.

Maybe you don’t know much about IgAN. Perhaps you’ve seen the hashtag or scrolled past an infographic. It’s great that you want to learn more! One next step is to visit the resource pages of organizations dedicated to IgAN.

Check out the Patient Guides section on the IgA Nephropathy Foundation’s website for a primer on this condition. For more in-depth and specialized discussion, you can check out archived episodes of the Foundation’s podcast.

NephCure provides an overview of symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment, as well as tips for living with IgAN. And IgAN Friends offers information on diet and lifestyle and how to support your reproductive health when you have IgAN.

IgAN Awareness Day is your chance to shed light on a lesser-known rare kidney condition. You can contribute by speaking out on social media and at online and in-person events. Spreading knowledge and awareness of this condition can help improve the lives of people with IgAN and their caregivers.