The Facts
IgA nephropathy, also called Berger's disease, is a kidney disorder that causes inflammation of the glomeruli, the individual filtering units of the kidney that produce urine.
The inflammation is produced by a buildup of a substance called immunoglobulin A (IgA) in the kidneys. IgA is a type of antibody manufactured by the immune system. When the body is unable to filter the urine, it can't excrete body wastes or eliminate excess fluid from the bloodstream. IgA nephropathy leads to kidney failure and other related complications. It may be acute (attacking quickly and suddenly) or chronic.
IgA nephropathy often strikes in the teen or early adult years. It affects more males than females.