04/28/2026
Today is APOL1 Awareness Day — and this one hits close to home.
APOL1 is a gene variant found almost exclusively in people of West African descent. When someone inherits two copies, their risk of serious kidney disease — including FSGS — can be up to 17 times higher than average.
About 13% of Black Americans carry this high-risk genotype. Most have never been told.
As a nephrologist, I wrote today's blog post for every patient who was told their kidney disease was "just hypertension" — and for every family wondering why a loved one ended up on dialysis so young.
The post covers:
• What APOL1 is (in plain language)
• What triggers it (medications, infections, inflammation)
• When to ask about genetic testing
• What's in the treatment pipeline right now
Please share this with someone who needs to see it. Awareness is the first step toward equity. 💙
🔗 Read the full article here:
https://www.kidneymd.net/post/apol1-kidney-disease-black-americans
Learn about APOL1 kidney disease affecting millions of Black Americans, its genetic risks, early warning signs, and new treatments changing kidney care.