Renal disease and black Americans: selected issues

Black Americans compared with their white counterparts are disproportionately hypertensive and have a greater incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Renal disease is a frequent end point of accelerated hypertension. The reasons why black Americans have a higher incidence of ESRD relative to white Americans are explored. As transplantation is a preferred mode of treatment for chronically ill ESRD patients, the paper examines some of the reasons why blacks are more reluctant than whites to donate their organs (e.g. kidneys) for transplantation. Although various reasons affect organ donation, altruism is explored as a possible factor that may influence the willingness of blacks to donate their organs.