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McIntosh T, Walsh H, Baldwin K, Iltis A, Mohan S, Sawinski D, Goodman M, DuBois JM. Evaluating ApoL1 Genetic Testing Policy Options for Transplant Centers: A Delphi Consensus Panel Project with Stakeholders. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 2024; 19:494-502. [PMID: 38190141 PMCID: PMC11020447 DOI: 10.2215/cjn.0000000000000397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Apolipoprotein L1 (ApoL1) variants G1 and G2 are associated with a higher risk of kidney disease. ApoL1 risk variants are predominantly seen in individuals with sub-Saharan African ancestry. In most transplant centers, potential organ donors are being selectively genetically tested for ApoL1 risk variants. Transplant programs have highly variable ApoL1 testing practices and need guidance on essential ApoL1 clinical policy questions. METHODS We conducted a Delphi consensus panel focused on ApoL1 clinical policy questions, including who gets tested, who decides whether testing occurs, how test results are shared, who receives test results, and how test results are used. A total of 27 panelists across seven stakeholder groups participated: living kidney donors ( n =4), deceased donor family members ( n =3), recipients of a deceased donor kidney ( n =4), recipients of a living donor kidney ( n =4), nephrologists ( n =4), transplant surgeons ( n =4), and genetic counselors ( n =4). Nineteen panelists (70%) identified as Black. The Delphi panel process involved two rounds of educational webinars and three rounds of surveys administered to panelists, who were asked to indicate whether they support, could live with, or oppose each policy option. RESULTS The panel reached consensus on one or more acceptable policy options for each clinical policy question; panelists supported 18 policy options and opposed 15. Key elements of consensus include the following: ask potential donors about African ancestry rather than race; make testing decisions only after discussion with donors; encourage disclosure of test results to blood relatives and organ recipients but do not require it; use test results to inform decision making, but never for unilateral decisions by transplant programs. CONCLUSIONS The panel generally supported policy options involving discussion and shared decision making among patients, donors, and family stakeholders. There was general opposition to unilateral decision making and prohibiting donation altogether.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan McIntosh
- Bioethics Resaerch Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Heidi Walsh
- Bioethics Resaerch Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Kari Baldwin
- Bioethics Resaerch Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Ana Iltis
- Center for Bioethics, Health and Society, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Sumit Mohan
- Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | | | - Melody Goodman
- School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, New York
| | - James M. DuBois
- Bioethics Resaerch Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
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Bentz M, Saperstein A, Fullerton SM, Shim JK, Lee SSJ. Conflating race and ancestry: Tracing decision points about population descriptors over the precision medicine research life course. HGG ADVANCES 2024; 5:100243. [PMID: 37771152 PMCID: PMC10585473 DOI: 10.1016/j.xhgg.2023.100243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Responding to calls for human genomics to shift away from the use of race, genomic investigators are coalescing around the possibility of using genetic ancestry. This shift has renewed questions about the use of social and genetic concepts of difference in precision medicine research (PMR). Drawing from qualitative data on five PMR projects, we illustrate negotiations within and between research teams as genomic investigators deliberate on the relevance of race and genetic ancestry for different analyses and contexts. We highlight how concepts of both social and genetic difference are embedded within and travel through research practices, and identify multiple points across the research life course at which conceptual slippage and conflation between race and genetic ancestry occur. We argue that moving beyond race will require PMR investigators to confront the entrenched ways in which race is built into research practices and biomedical infrastructures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Bentz
- Division of Ethics, Department of Medical Humanities and Ethics, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, PH 1525, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| | - Aliya Saperstein
- Department of Sociology, Stanford University, 450 Jane Stanford Way, Building 120, Room 160, Stanford, CA 94305-2047, USA
| | - Stephanie M Fullerton
- Department of Bioethics & Humanities, University of Washington School of Medicine, Box 357120, Seattle, WA 98195-7120, USA
| | - Janet K Shim
- Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 490 Illinois Street, Floor 12, Box 0612, San Francisco, CA 94143-0612, USA
| | - Sandra Soo-Jin Lee
- Division of Ethics, Department of Medical Humanities and Ethics, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, 630 West 168th Street, PH 1525, New York, NY 10032, USA.
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Smith JD, Agrawal A, Wicklund C, Duquette D, Friedewald J, Rasmussen LV, Gacki-Smith J, Tandon SD, Muhammad LN, Yancy CW, Dong S, Cooper M, Gilbert A, Shetty A, Gordon EJ. Implementation of a culturally competent APOL1 genetic testing programme into living donor evaluation: A two-site, non-randomised, pre-post trial design. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e067657. [PMID: 37188469 PMCID: PMC10186444 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION While living donor (LD) kidney transplantation is the optimal treatment for patients with kidney failure, LDs assume a higher risk of future kidney failure themselves. LDs of African ancestry have an even greater risk of kidney failure post-donation than White LDs. Because evidence suggests that Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) risk variants contribute to this greater risk, transplant nephrologists are increasingly using APOL1 genetic testing to evaluate LD candidates of African ancestry. However, nephrologists do not consistently perform genetic counselling with LD candidates about APOL1 due to a lack of knowledge and skill in counselling. Without proper counselling, APOL1 testing will magnify LD candidates' decisional conflict about donating, jeopardising their informed consent. Given cultural concerns about genetic testing among people of African ancestry, protecting LD candidates' safety is essential to improve informed decisions about donating. Clinical 'chatbots', mobile apps that provide genetic information to patients, can improve informed treatment decisions. No chatbot on APOL1 is available and no nephrologist training programmes are available to provide culturally competent counselling to LDs about APOL1. Given the shortage of genetic counsellors, increasing nephrologists' genetic literacy is critical to integrating genetic testing into practice. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Using a non-randomised, pre-post trial design in two transplant centres (Chicago, IL, and Washington, DC), we will evaluate the effectiveness of culturally competent APOL1 testing, chatbot and counselling on LD candidates' decisional conflict about donating, preparedness for decision-making, willingness to donate and satisfaction with informed consent and longitudinally evaluate the implementation of this intervention into clinical practice using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance framework. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION This study will create a model for APOL1 testing of LDs of African ancestry, which can be implemented nationally via implementation science approaches. APOL1 will serve as a model for integrating culturally competent genetic testing into transplant and other practices to improve informed consent. This study involves human participants and was approved by Northwestern University IRB (STU00214038). Participants gave informed consent to participate in the study before taking part. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04910867. Registered 8 May 2021, https://register. CLINICALTRIALS gov/prs/app/action/SelectProtocol?sid=S000AWZ6&selectaction=Edit&uid=U0001PPF&ts=7&cx=-8jv7m2 ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04999436. Registered 5 November 2021, https://register. CLINICALTRIALS gov/prs/app/action/SelectProtocol?sid=S000AYWW&selectaction=Edit&uid=U0001PPF&ts=11&cx=9tny7v.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin D Smith
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
- Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Akansha Agrawal
- Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Catherine Wicklund
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Debra Duquette
- Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - John Friedewald
- Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Luke V Rasmussen
- Division of Health and Biomedical Informatics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jessica Gacki-Smith
- Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - S Darius Tandon
- Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Lutfiyya N Muhammad
- Department of Preventive Medicine-Division of Biostatistics, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Clyde W Yancy
- Department of Medicine-Division of Cardiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Siyuan Dong
- Department of Preventive Medicine-Division of Biostatistics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Matthew Cooper
- Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Alexander Gilbert
- Medicine, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Aneesha Shetty
- Medicine, The University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Elisa J Gordon
- Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Thomas CP, Daloul R, Lentine KL, Gohh R, Anand PM, Rasouly HM, Sharfuddin AA, Schlondorff JS, Rodig NM, Freese ME, Garg N, Lee BK, Caliskan Y. Genetic evaluation of living kidney donor candidates: A review and recommendations for best practices. Am J Transplant 2023; 23:597-607. [PMID: 36868514 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajt.2023.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
The growing accessibility and falling costs of genetic sequencing techniques has expanded the utilization of genetic testing in clinical practice. For living kidney donation, genetic evaluation has been increasingly used to identify genetic kidney disease in potential candidates, especially in those of younger ages. However, genetic testing on asymptomatic living kidney donors remains fraught with many challenges and uncertainties. Not all transplant practitioners are aware of the limitations of genetic testing, are comfortable with selecting testing methods, comprehending test results, or providing counsel, and many do not have access to a renal genetic counselor or a clinical geneticist. Although genetic testing can be a valuable tool in living kidney donor evaluation, its overall benefit in donor evaluation has not been demonstrated and it can also lead to confusion, inappropriate donor exclusion, or misleading reassurance. Until more published data become available, this practice resource should provide guidance for centers and transplant practitioners on the responsible use of genetic testing in the evaluation of living kidney donor candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christie P Thomas
- Department of of Internal Medicine and Iowa Institute of Human Genetics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA; VA Medical Center, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.
| | - Reem Daloul
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Krista L Lentine
- Saint Louis University Transplant Center, SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Reginald Gohh
- Department of Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Prince M Anand
- Mid-Carolinas Transplant Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Lancaster, South Carolina, USA
| | - Hila Milo Rasouly
- Center for Precision Medicine and Genomics, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Asif A Sharfuddin
- Division of Nephrology and Transplant, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Johannes S Schlondorff
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Nancy M Rodig
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Margaret E Freese
- Department of of Internal Medicine and Iowa Institute of Human Genetics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Neetika Garg
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Brian K Lee
- Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Center, Dell Seton Medical Center, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Yasar Caliskan
- Saint Louis University Transplant Center, SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Iltis AS, Rolf L, Yaeger L, Goodman MS, DuBois JM. Attitudes and beliefs regarding race-targeted genetic testing of Black people: A systematic review. J Genet Couns 2023; 32:435-461. [PMID: 36644818 PMCID: PMC10349658 DOI: 10.1002/jgc4.1653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Geographical ancestry has been associated with an increased risk of various genetic conditions. Race and ethnicity often have been used as proxies for geographical ancestry. Despite numerous problems associated with the crude reliance on race and ethnicity as proxies for geographical ancestry, some genetic testing in the clinical, research, and employment settings has been and continues to be race- or ethnicity-based. Race-based or race-targeted genetic testing refers to genetic testing offered only or primarily to people of particular racial or ethnic groups because of presumed differences among groups. One current example is APOL1 testing of Black kidney donors. Race-based genetic testing raises numerous ethical and policy questions. Given the ongoing reliance on the Black race in genetic testing, it is important to understand the views of people who identify as Black or are identified as Black (including African American, Afro-Caribbean, and Hispanic Black) regarding race-based genetic testing that targets Black people because of their race. We conducted a systematic review of studies and reports of stakeholder-engaged projects that examined how people who identify as or are identified as Black perceive genetic testing that specifically presumes genetic differences exist among racial groups or uses race as a surrogate for ancestral genetic variation and targets Black people. Our review identified 14 studies that explicitly studied this question and another 13 that implicitly or tacitly studied this matter. We found four main factors that contribute to a positive attitude toward race-targeted genetic testing (facilitators) and eight main factors that are associated with concerns regarding race-targeted genetic testing (barriers). This review fills an important gap. These findings should inform future genetic research and the policies and practices developed in clinical, research, public health, or other settings regarding genetic testing.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Liz Rolf
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
| | - Lauren Yaeger
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
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Saunders M, Simpson D. “Can i donate a kidney?” Common questions and simplified answers to the prospective kidney donor. J Natl Med Assoc 2022; 114:S56-S61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnma.2022.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Soraru J, Chakera A, Isbel N, Mallawaarachichi A, Rogers N, Trnka P, Patel C, Mallett A. The evolving role of diagnostic genomics in kidney transplantation. Kidney Int Rep 2022; 7:1758-1771. [PMID: 35967121 PMCID: PMC9366366 DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2022.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Monogenic forms of heritable kidney disease account for a significant proportion of chronic kidney disease (CKD) across both pediatric and adult patient populations and up to 11% of patients under 40 years reaching end-stage kidney failure (KF) and awaiting kidney transplant. Diagnostic genomics in the field of nephrology is ever evolving and now plays an important role in assessment and management of kidney transplant recipients and their related donor pairs. Genomic testing can help identify the cause of KF in kidney transplant recipients and assist in prognostication around graft survival and rate of recurrence of primary kidney disease. If a gene variant has been identified in the recipient, at-risk related donors can be assessed for the same and excluded if affected. This paper aims to address the indications for genomic testing in the context for kidney transplantation, the technologies available for testing, the conditions and groups in which testing should be most often considered, and the role for the renal genetics multidisciplinary team in this process.
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Harris DD, Fleishman A, Pavlakis M, Pollak MR, Baliga PK, Rohan V, Kayler LK, Rodrigue JR. Apolipoprotein L1 Opinions of African American Living Kidney Donors, Kidney Transplant Patients, and Nonpatients. J Surg Res 2022; 277:116-124. [PMID: 35489216 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2022.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The discovery of apolipoprotein L1 (ApoL1) has raised important ethical and clinical questions about genetic testing in the context of living and deceased kidney donation. Largely missing from this discussion are the perspectives of those African Americans (AA) most likely to be impacted by ApoL1 testing. METHODS We surveyed 331 AA potential and former living kidney donors (LKDs), kidney transplant candidates and recipients, and nonpatients at three United States transplant programs about their ApoL1 testing attitudes. RESULTS Overall, 72% felt that transplant programs should offer ApoL1 testing to AA potential LKDs. If a potential LKD has the high-risk genotype, 79% felt that the LKD should be allowed to make their own donation decision or participate in shared decision-making with transplant doctors. More than half of the potential LKDs (58%) would undergo ApoL1 testing and 81% of former LKDs would take the test now if offered. Most transplant candidates expressed a low likelihood of accepting a kidney from a LKD (79%) or a deceased donor (67%) with the high-risk genotype. CONCLUSIONS There is strong support among LKDs and transplant patients for ApoL1 testing when evaluating potential kidney donors of African ancestry. Inclusion of AA stakeholders in developing guidelines and educational programs for ApoL1 testing is critical.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dwight D Harris
- Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Aaron Fleishman
- Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Martha Pavlakis
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Martin R Pollak
- Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Prabhakar K Baliga
- Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Vinayak Rohan
- Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Liise K Kayler
- Department of Surgery, University at Buffalo (SUNY) Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences and Erie County Medical Center, Buffalo, New York
| | - James R Rodrigue
- Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
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A scoping review of inequities in access to organ transplant in the United States. Int J Equity Health 2022; 21:22. [PMID: 35151327 PMCID: PMC8841123 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-021-01616-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Organ transplant is the preferred treatment for end-stage organ disease, yet the majority of patients with end-stage organ disease are never placed on the transplant waiting list. Limited access to the transplant waiting list combined with the scarcity of the organ pool result in over 100,000 deaths annually in the United States. Patients face unique barriers to referral and acceptance for organ transplant based on social determinants of health, and patients from disenfranchised groups suffer from disproportionately lower rates of transplantation. Our objective was to review the literature describing disparities in access to organ transplantation based on social determinants of health to integrate the existing knowledge and guide future research. Methods We conducted a scoping review of the literature reporting disparities in access to heart, lung, liver, pancreas and kidney transplantation based on social determinants of health (race, income, education, geography, insurance status, health literacy and engagement). Included studies were categorized based on steps along the transplant care continuum: referral for transplant, transplant evaluation and selection, living donor identification/evaluation, and waitlist outcomes. Results Our search generated 16,643 studies, of which 227 were included in our final review. Of these, 34 focused on disparities in referral for transplantation among patients with chronic organ disease, 82 on transplant selection processes, 50 on living donors, and 61 on waitlist management. In total, 15 studies involved the thoracic organs (heart, lung), 209 involved the abdominal organs (kidney, liver, pancreas), and three involved multiple organs. Racial and ethnic minorities, women, and patients in lower socioeconomic status groups were less likely to be referred, evaluated, and added to the waiting list for organ transplant. The quality of the data describing these disparities across the transplant literature was variable and overwhelmingly focused on kidney transplant. Conclusions This review contextualizes the quality of the data, identifies seminal work by organ, and reports gaps in the literature where future research on disparities in organ transplantation should focus. Future work should investigate the association of social determinants of health with access to the organ transplant waiting list, with a focus on prospective analyses that assess interventions to improve health equity. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12939-021-01616-x.
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Nestor JG, Li AJ, King KL, Husain SA, McIntosh TJ, Sawinski D, Iltis AS, Goodman MS, Walsh HA, DuBois JM, Mohan S. Impact of education on APOL1 testing attitudes among prospective living kidney donors. Clin Transplant 2022; 36:e14516. [PMID: 34661305 PMCID: PMC9113661 DOI: 10.1111/ctr.14516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
It is unknown how providing prospective living donors with information about APOL1, including the benefits and drawbacks of testing, influences their desire for testing. In this study, we surveyed 102 participants with self-reported African ancestry and positive family history of kidney disease, recruited from our nephrology waiting room. We assessed views on APOL1 testing before and after presentation of a set of potential benefits and drawbacks of testing and quantified the self-reported level of influence individual benefits and drawbacks had on participants' desire for testing in the proposed context of living donation. The majority of participants (92%) were aware of organ donation and more than half (56%) had considered living donation. And though we found no significant change in response following presentation of the potential benefits and the drawbacks of APOL1 testing by study end significance, across all participants, "becoming aware of the potential risk of kidney disease among your immediate family" was the benefit with the highest mean influence (3.3±1.4), while the drawback with the highest mean influence (2.9±1.5) was "some transplant centers may not allow you to donate to a loved one". This study provides insights into the priorities of prospective living donors and suggests concern for how the information affects family members may strongly influence desires for testing. It also highlights the need for greater community engagement to gain a deeper understanding of the priorities that influence decision making on APOL1 testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan G. Nestor
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Amber J. Li
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kristen L. King
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - S. Ali Husain
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- The Columbia University Renal Epidemiology (CURE) Group, New York, New York, USA
| | - Tristan J. McIntosh
- Bioethics Research Center, Division of General Medical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Deirdre Sawinski
- Department of Medicine, Renal Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ana S. Iltis
- Center for Bioethics Health and Society and Department of Philosophy, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Melody S. Goodman
- School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Heidi A. Walsh
- Bioethics Research Center, Division of General Medical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - James M. DuBois
- Bioethics Research Center, Division of General Medical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Sumit Mohan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- The Columbia University Renal Epidemiology (CURE) Group, New York, New York, USA
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Iltis AS, Connell A, Cooper L, Gee PO, Jefferson NM, Johnson HA, Kingston GM, Roberts GV, Scott N, Smith A, Waddy S, Woodard L, DuBois JM. Improving Kidney Disease Research in the Black Community: The Essential Role of Black Voices in the APOLLO Study. Am J Kidney Dis 2021; 79:750-753. [PMID: 34653538 DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2021.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ana S Iltis
- Center for Bioethics, Health and Society, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - James M DuBois
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
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Iltis AS, Mehta M, Sawinski D. Ignorance is Not Bliss: The Case for Comprehensive Reproductive Counseling for Women with Chronic Kidney Disease. HEC Forum 2021:10.1007/s10730-021-09463-7. [PMID: 34617168 DOI: 10.1007/s10730-021-09463-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The bioethics literature has paid little attention to matters of informed reproductive decision-making among women of childbearing age who have chronic kidney disease (CKD), including women who are on dialysis or women who have had a kidney transplant. Women with CKD receive inconsistent and, sometimes, inadequate reproductive counseling, particularly with respect to information about pursuing pregnancy. We identify four factors that might contribute to inadequate and inconsistent reproductive counseling. We argue that women with CKD should receive comprehensive reproductive counseling, including information about the possibility of pursuing pregnancy, and that more rigorous research on pregnancy in women with CKD, including women on dialysis or who have received a kidney transplant, is warranted to improve informed reproductive decision making in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana S Iltis
- Center for Bioethics, Health and Society, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
| | - Maya Mehta
- Center for Bioethics, Health and Society, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Deirdre Sawinski
- Renal Electrolyte, and Hypertension Division, Department of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Doshi MD, Gordon EJ, Freedman BI, Glover C, Locke JE, Thomas CP. Integrating APOL1 Kidney-risk Variant Testing in Live Kidney Donor Evaluation: An Expert Panel Opinion. Transplantation 2021; 105:2132-2134. [PMID: 33534524 PMCID: PMC8994118 DOI: 10.1097/tp.0000000000003641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mona D. Doshi
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Elisa J. Gordon
- Department of Surgery-Transplantation, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Barry I. Freedman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Nephrology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
| | | | - Jayme E. Locke
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | - Christie P. Thomas
- Department of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
- Department of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
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Affiliation(s)
- Sundaram Hariharan
- From the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh (S.H.); Hennepin Healthcare, the University of Minnesota, and the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients - all in Minneapolis (A.K.I.); and the University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles (G.D.)
| | - Ajay K Israni
- From the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh (S.H.); Hennepin Healthcare, the University of Minnesota, and the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients - all in Minneapolis (A.K.I.); and the University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles (G.D.)
| | - Gabriel Danovitch
- From the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh (S.H.); Hennepin Healthcare, the University of Minnesota, and the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients - all in Minneapolis (A.K.I.); and the University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles (G.D.)
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15
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Ross LF, Thistlethwaite JR. Gender and race/ethnicity differences in living kidney donor demographics: Preference or disparity? Transplant Rev (Orlando) 2021; 35:100614. [PMID: 33857733 PMCID: PMC8627424 DOI: 10.1016/j.trre.2021.100614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In the United States, women are over-represented and Blacks are under-represented as living kidney donors. A traditional bioethics approach would state that as long as living donors believe that the benefits of participation outweigh the risks and harms (beneficence) and they give a voluntary and informed consent, then the demographics reflect a mere difference in preferences. Such an analysis, however, ignores the social, economic and cultural determinants as well as various forms of structural discrimination (e.g., racism, sexism) that may imply that the distribution is less voluntary than may appear initially. The distribution also raises justice concerns regarding the fair recruitment and selection of living donors. We examine the differences in living kidney donor demographics using a vulnerabilities analysis and argue that these gender and racial differences may not reflect mere preferences, but rather, serious justice concerns that need to be addressed at both the individual and systems level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lainie Friedman Ross
- Carolyn and Matthew Bucksbaum Professor of Clinical Ethics, Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine, Surgery and the College, Associate Director of the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, Co-Director of the Institute for Translational Medicine, University of Chicago, United States of America.
| | - J Richard Thistlethwaite
- Professor Emeritus of Surgery, Section on Transplantation Surgery, Faculty Emeritus of the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics, University of Chicago, United States of America
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16
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Freedman BI, Burke W, Divers J, Eberhard L, Gadegbeku CA, Gbadegesin R, Hall ME, Jones-Smith T, Knight R, Kopp JB, Kovesdy CP, Norris KC, Olabisi OA, Roberts GV, Sedor JR, Blacksher E. Diagnosis, Education, and Care of Patients with APOL1-Associated Nephropathy: A Delphi Consensus and Systematic Review. J Am Soc Nephrol 2021; 32:1765-1778. [PMID: 33853887 PMCID: PMC8425659 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2020101399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND APOL1 variants contribute to the markedly higher incidence of ESKD in Blacks compared with Whites. Genetic testing for these variants in patients with African ancestry who have nephropathy is uncommon, and no specific treatment or management protocol for APOL1-associated nephropathy currently exists. METHODS A multidisciplinary, racially diverse group of 14 experts and patient advocates participated in a Delphi consensus process to establish practical guidance for clinicians caring for patients who may have APOL1-associated nephropathy. Consensus group members took part in three anonymous voting rounds to develop consensus statements relating to the following: (1) counseling, genotyping, and diagnosis; (2) disease awareness and education; and (3) a vision for management of APOL1-associated nephropathy in a future when treatment is available. A systematic literature search of the MEDLINE and Embase databases was conducted to identify relevant evidence published from January 1, 2009 to July 14, 2020. RESULTS The consensus group agreed on 55 consensus statements covering such topics as demographic and clinical factors that suggest a patient has APOL1-associated nephropathy, as well as key considerations for counseling, testing, and diagnosis in current clinical practice. They achieved consensus on the need to increase awareness among key stakeholders of racial health disparities in kidney disease and of APOL1-associated nephropathy and on features of a successful education program to raise awareness among the patient community. The group also highlighted the unmet need for a specific treatment and agreed on best practice for management of these patients should a treatment become available. CONCLUSIONS A multidisciplinary group of experts and patient advocates defined consensus-based guidance on the care of patients who may have APOL1-associated nephropathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barry I. Freedman
- Department of Internal Medicine, Section on Nephrology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | - Wylie Burke
- Department of Bioethics and Humanities, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Jasmin Divers
- Division of Health Services Research, Department of Foundations of Medicine, New York University Long Island School of Medicine and Winthrop Research Institute, Mineola, New York
| | | | - Crystal A. Gadegbeku
- Department of Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Rasheed Gbadegesin
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Michael E. Hall
- Department of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi
| | | | | | - Jeffrey B. Kopp
- Kidney Disease Section, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Csaba P. Kovesdy
- Division of Nephrology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Keith C. Norris
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, University of California Los Angeles Medical Center, University of California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Opeyemi A. Olabisi
- Department of Medicine, Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Glenda V. Roberts
- Kidney Research Institute/Center for Dialysis Innovation, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - John R. Sedor
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, Glickman Urology and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Erika Blacksher
- Department of Bioethics and Humanities, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
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Husain SA, King KL, Sanichar N, Crew RJ, Schold JD, Mohan S. Association Between Donor-Recipient Biological Relationship and Allograft Outcomes After Living Donor Kidney Transplant. JAMA Netw Open 2021; 4:e215718. [PMID: 33847748 PMCID: PMC8044734 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.5718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The proportion of living donor kidney transplants from donors unrelated to their recipients is increasing in the US. OBJECTIVE To examine the association between donor-recipient biological relationship and allograft survival after living donor kidney transplant. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective cohort study used Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network data on US adult living donor kidney transplants (n = 86 154) performed from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2014, excluding cases in which recipients previously received a kidney transplant (n = 10 342) or key data were missing (n = 2832). Last follow-up was March 20, 2020. EXPOSURES Donor-recipient biological relationship. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was death-censored allograft failure. Univariate and multivariable time-to-event analyses were performed for death-censored allograft failure for the overall cohort, then separately for recipients with and without primary diagnoses of cystic kidney disease and for transplants from African American and non-African American donors. RESULTS Among the 72 980 transplant donor and recipients included in the study (median donor age, 41 years; interquartile range [IQR], 32-50 years; 43 990 [60%] female; 50 014 [69%] White), 43 174 (59%) donors and recipients were biologically related and 29 806 (41%) were unrelated. Donors related to their recipients were younger (median [IQR] age, 39 [31-48] vs 44 [35-52] years) and less likely to be female (24 848 [58%] vs 19 142 [64%]) or White (26 933 [62%] vs 23 081 [77%]). Recipients related to their donors were younger (median [IQR] age, 48 [34-58] vs 50 [40-58] years), more likely to be female (18 035 [42%] vs 10 530 [35%]), and less likely to have cystic kidney disease (2530 [6%] vs 4600 [15%]). Related pairs had fewer HLA mismatches overall (median [IQR], 3 [2-3] vs 5 [4-5]). After adjustment for HLA mismatches, donor and recipient characteristics, and transplant era, donor-recipient biological relationship was associated with higher death-censored allograft failure (hazard ratio, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.10; P = .03). When stratified by primary disease, this association persisted only for recipients without cystic kidney disease. When stratified by donor race, this association persisted only for transplants from African American donors. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this cohort study, living donor kidney transplants from donors biologically related to their recipients had higher rates of allograft failure than transplants from donors unrelated to their recipients after HLA matching was accounted for. Further study is needed to determine which genetic or socioenvironmental factors are associated with this finding.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Ali Husain
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
- The Columbia University Renal Epidemiology (CURE) Group, New York, New York
| | - Kristen L. King
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
- The Columbia University Renal Epidemiology (CURE) Group, New York, New York
| | - Navin Sanichar
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York
| | - R. John Crew
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Jesse D. Schold
- Center for Populations Health Research, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Sumit Mohan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
- The Columbia University Renal Epidemiology (CURE) Group, New York, New York
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York
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Ekwenna O, Lang J, Thomas I. APOL1 screening of potential living kidney donors in resource-limited countries: an initial experience in Antigua & Barbuda and Nigeria. Transpl Int 2021; 34:590-592. [PMID: 33423344 DOI: 10.1111/tri.13815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Obi Ekwenna
- Department of Urology and Transplantation, University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Jacob Lang
- University of Toledo College of Medicine, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Ian Thomas
- Department of Nephrology and Medicine, Mt. St John's Medical Centre, St. John, Antigua and Barbuda
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19
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Gill JS, Brar S. Surveys are sometimes most notable for what they do not tell us. Am J Transplant 2020; 20:3279-3280. [PMID: 32506602 DOI: 10.1111/ajt.16115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- John S Gill
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,Center for Health Evaluation and Outcomes Sciences, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Sandeep Brar
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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20
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Attitudes and Practices of Australian Nephrologists Toward Implementation of Clinical Genomics. Kidney Int Rep 2020; 6:272-283. [PMID: 33615052 PMCID: PMC7879212 DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2020.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Genomic testing is becoming widely available as a diagnostic tool, although widespread implementation is not yet established in nephrology. Methods An anonymous electronic survey was administered to investigate experience and confidence with genomic tests, perceived clinical utility of genomic services, preferences for service delivery models, and readiness for implementation among nephrologists. Questions were guided by a comprehensive literature review and published tools, including a validated theoretical framework for implementation of genomic medicine: Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Results Responses were received from 224 clinicians, of which 172 were eligible for analysis. Most clinicians (132 [76%]) had referred at least one patient to a genetics clinic. Despite most clinicians (136 [85%]) indicating that they believed genetic testing would be useful, only 39 (23%) indicated they felt confident to use results of genomic testing, with pediatric clinicians feeling more confident compared with adult clinicians (12 of 20 [60%] vs. 27 of 149 [18%]), P < 0.01, Fisher exact). A multidisciplinary renal genetics clinic was the preferred model among clinicians surveyed (98 of 172 [57%]). A key implementation barrier highlighted related to the hospital or organizational culture and/or environment. Specific barriers noted in quantitative and qualitative responses included inadequate staffing, learning resources, and funding. Conclusions Our findings suggest support for genomic testing among nephrologists, with a strong preference for a multidisciplinary model (involving a nephrologist, clinical geneticist, and genetic counselor). Broad-ranging interventions are urgently required to shift the current culture and ensure successful implementation of genomics in nephrology, including reducing knowledge gaps, increased funding and resources, disease-specific guidelines, and streamlining of testing processes.
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Marin EP, Cohen E, Dahl N. Clinical Applications of Genetic Discoveries in Kidney Transplantation: a Review. KIDNEY360 2020; 1:300-305. [PMID: 35372915 PMCID: PMC8809267 DOI: 10.34067/kid.0000312019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Growth in knowledge of the genetics of kidney disease has revealed that significant percentages of patients with diverse types of nephropathy have causative mutations. Genetic testing is poised to play an increasing role in the care of patients with kidney disease. The role of genetic testing in kidney transplantation is not well established. This review will explore the ways in which genetic testing may be applied to improve the care of kidney transplant recipients and donors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan P. Marin
- Section of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; and
| | | | - Neera Dahl
- Section of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; and
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