Lupus: The Expert Series

The Expert Series S7E2: Race-free eGFR Calculations and Implications for People Living With Lupus Nephritis

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Drs. Ashira Blazer and Denise Kimbrough discuss the recent removal of the African American/Black race coefficient from the Kidney Donor Profile Index (KDPI) by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN). Learn about the implications for lupus patients with kidney disease and the potential impacts on health equity.


Episode Takeaways:

  • Lupus-related kidney disease (lupus nephritis) disproportionately affects African American/Black, Hispanic, Indigenous, South Asian and Latino/a populations, who face longer transplant wait times due to systemic inequities and social determinants of health.
  • Biases in medical algorithms, such as race-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculations, can harm patient outcomes.
  • Recent removal of race from eGFR calculations could potentially improve access to transplants for communities where previous opportunities for transplantation were significantly lower.
  • Enhancing education and awareness related to kidney health is essential for addressing these health disparities and improving outcomes.


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    Related Resources:

    • New Policy Will Remove Race, Improve Equity in Transplantation (National Kidney Foundation)
    • Kidney transplant for lupus: Your essential questions answered (LFA)
    • Lupus Nephritis Information Center (LFA)
    • Lupus and the Kidneys (LFA)
    • What is lupus nephritis? (LFA)
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      Lupus: The Expert SeriesBy Lupus Foundation of America
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