Risk factors

Although the exact cause of IgA nephropathy is unknown, these factors might increase your risk of developing this condition:

• Sex. In North America and Western Europe, IgA nephropathy affects at least twice as many men as it does women.
• Ethnicity. IgA nephropathy is more common in whites and Asians than it is in blacks.
• Age. IgA nephropathy most often develops between the late teens and late 30s.
• Family history. In some cases, IgA nephropathy appears to run in families, indicating that genetic factors contribute to the disease.