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

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)