IgA Nephropathy Awareness Day

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

WHEREAS, IgA nephropathy, also known as IgAN or Berger’s disease, is a rare kidney disorder characterized by the buildup of immunoglobulin A (IgA), a protein that helps breakdown the normal filtering mechanisms in the kidneys; and

WHEREAS, IgAN can lead to blood in the urine (hematuria) and protein in the urine (proteinuria); and

WHEREAS, there is no cure for IgAN, and treatments can only focus on slowing the progress of the disease and preventing complications; and

WHEREAS, approximately 20-40% of individuals who have IgAN will develop end-stage kidney disease and need dialysis or kidney transplantation to survive; and

WHEREAS, IgA nephropathy is twice as likely to appear in men as women, can occur at any age but most likely strikes people in their twenties and thirties, and is more common in Caucasians and Asians; and

WHEREAS, transplants can greatly improve the quality of life of patients but do not guarantee that the disease will not return and infect the new kidney; and

WHEREAS, IgA Nephropathy Awareness Day is designated to raise awareness of IgA Nephropathy, provide support to patients, and promote the research needed to lead to better diagnosis and an eventual cure;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize May 14, 2024, as IgA NEPHROPATHY AWARENESS DAY in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.

Governor of Virginia

Proclamations