NHS launches genetic test to reduce kidney failure risk for black donors

NHS launches genetic test to reduce kidney failure risk for black donors

Hundreds of potential kidney donors of black African and black Caribbean heritage in the UK can now receive a simple blood test to reduce the risk of kidney failure.

The test is part of national genetic testing available on the NHS and will help determine whether potential donors carry genes that mean they are at high risk of kidney disease after donation.

The test was made available nationwide following a request from members of Bristol Health Partners' kidney disease healthcare team at the University of Bristol and North Bristol NHS Trust.

The NHS plans to carry out around 160 tests a year to identify people with “high-risk” variants of a gene that could put them at future risk of kidney failure.

According to the APOL1 tests, those found to be at high risk of developing kidney failure later in life and those under 60 years of age are advised against kidney donation.

Genetic testing for potential donors could also help prevent future kidney disease and reduce health care disparities among people of black African and black Caribbean heritage, who are more likely to develop kidney disease than those of white heritage.

Those who are at higher risk of kidney disease can receive regular monitoring and kidney exams, as well as advice on lifestyle changes and diet, which may help reduce their risk of developing kidney disease in the future.

Every year, around 1,000 people donate one of their kidneys to someone with kidney failure.

People with two parents of black African and black Caribbean heritage are more likely to have kidney failure and need a transplant than people of white heritage.

Research shows that about three in five people with two risk genes will develop kidney disease after donating a kidney.

The genetic test will look for the genes in all people of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage who are considering donating a kidney - around 500 tests are expected over the next three years.

Testing is now available across the country, with samples sent to the South West and South East hubs for analysis.

The initiative is part of wider work to embed genomics into the NHS, including how genomic medicine can best serve diverse communities and reduce health disparities.

It's great news that this simple blood test on the NHS will help protect donors of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage who selflessly come forward to save lives.

We know that kidney failure disproportionately affects people of black African and black Caribbean heritage, and this genetic test will not only help protect potential donors from future kidney disease, but also help NHS staff monitor those most at risk, which could ultimately improve hundreds of lives.

This is just the latest example of how the NHS is harnessing the full power of genomic medicine to prevent future disease, improve patients' lives, whilst addressing healthcare inequalities to improve the lives of all NHS patients. “

Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England

Professor Bola Owolabi, Director of the National Healthcare Inequality Improvement Program, NHS England, added: "That is A big step forward In narrowing the kidney health gap and addressing health care disparities for Black African and Black Caribbean donors. This new genetic test will help make kidney donation safer for those generously willing to help others, and will also enable the NHS to help donors live longer, healthier lives. “

Professor Dame Sue Hill, Chief Scientific Officer of NHS England and Chief Officer in Charge of NHS Genomics, said: “The NHS is a global leader in genomics and has helped transform the lives of millions of patients and their families by ensuring they have access to the diagnosis, treatments and care they need.

"This national genomic medicine offering also exists to serve the needs of our diverse communities. By introducing Apol1 testing, we can now help protect the kidney health of people of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage when they generously consider donating a kidney. This is a prime example of how genomics has a role to play in reducing health disparities across England can play. “

Dr. Pippa Bailey, Associate Professor at the University of Bristol and Consultant Nephrologist at North Bristol NHS Trust, and Dr. Natalie Forrester, Consultant Clinical Scientist at the South West Genomics Hub, called for the test to be added to the National Genomics Test Directory.

Pippa said: "Thanks to these tests, approved by NHS England, we can now identify people who are at higher risk of developing kidney disease if they donate a kidney and therefore advise them against kidney donation. At the same time, we can reassure those who are not at high risk."

“The new test provides people of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage with personalized information about the risk of kidney donation, helping to reduce cases of kidney failure among kidney donors and disparity in living donor kidney transplantation.”

DR. "It's fantastic that we can now offer Apol1 genetic testing on the NHS. In a short space of time we have already identified this service as high risk and offer extremely valuable information to support transplant decisions and improve patients' lives."

Dr. Dela Idowu, 65, from north-west London, who was testing APOL1 tests through the South East Genomic Laboratory Hub, offered to be his donor. to the lack of black organ donors.

“Even though I was a perfect tissue match and the same blood type, the results of an Apol1 test showed donor.

"I now have an annual kidney health check with my GP because of the results of my test. I haven't thought twice about having it and would definitely encourage anyone of Black African and Black Caribbean heritage who is a kidney donor to have the test. It is so important to know whether it is safe to donate or not."

Professor Derek Manas, medical director for organ and tissue donation and transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “NHS Blood and Transplant welcomes the news that NHS England has now approved Apol1 tests, which are now available nationally on the NHS - this will deliver more, this will deliver more, this will deliver more, will now deliver more certainty to people in the Black African and Black Caribbean heritage who are considering donating a kidney and improving donor risk assessment and communication when evaluating donors of African descent. “

Health Minister Baroness Gillian Merron added: “This rollout is a transformative step forward, reducing health inequalities and saving lives.

“Kidney donation is a deeply generous act, and genetic testing will ensure this decision is made with the utmost care for both donor and recipient.”

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