APOL1 Kidney Disease: Conclusions from a KDIGO Controversies Conference
A global KDIGO panel reviewed the evidence on APOL1 high-risk gene variants — a major cause of kidney disease in people of African ancestry — and agreed on naming, when genotyping is useful, and why routine population screening is not yet justified.
Background
APOL1 G1 and G2 variants substantially increase the risk of progressive chronic kidney disease in people of African ancestry. KDIGO convened a Controversies Conference in Accra, Ghana in April 2024 to review naming, epidemiology, pathophysiology, testing, and treatment.
Key findings
Participants had highest support for 'APOL1 kidney disease' as the preferred term, used alone or with further specification such as associated focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Because there are no established treatments and genotype results are not by themselves actionable, the panel found insufficient evidence to recommend population screening or routine testing.
Clinical implications
Genotyping can nonetheless be clinically important for individual risk stratification, follow-up frequency, living kidney donation decisions, and clinical-trial eligibility, and the report delineates priority areas for future research.
Category
KDIGO
Source
Kidney International
More from ASNRT News
Browse the latest news, society announcements, KDIGO guideline updates, and AJNT issue releases on the ASNRT newsroom.