Journey to Diagnosis: APOL1-Mediated Kidney Disease Patient Videos

As part of the American Kidney Fund (AKF)'s efforts to fight kidney disease on all fronts, the organization has created an APOL1 education campaign. The campaign aims to increase awareness about APOL1-mediated kidney disease, a spectrum of kidney diseases that is associated with mutations or variants in the apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) gene that are linked to an increased risk for kidney disease in people of African and Caribbean descent.

The APOL1 gene creates proteins that play a role in immunity, our body's built-in system to fight threats. Some individuals have a mutation in one or both of the APOL1 genes. In these videos, Kevin, Emani and Therochelle share their journeys to being diagnosed with APOL1-mediated kidney disease and how that knowledge has helped them better advocate for their health.

Find out more on treating APOL1-mediated kidney disease: https://www.kidneyfund.org/all-about-kidneys/other-kidney-diseases/apol1-mediated-kidney-disease

AKF's APOL1 education campaign is sponsored by Vertex Pharmacaeuticals.