Evaluation for genetic disease in kidney transplant candidates: A practice resource

Abstract

The increasing availability of clinically approved genetic tests for kidney disease has spurred the growth in the use of these tests in kidney transplant practice. Neither the testing options nor the patient population where this should be deployed has been defined, and its value in kidney transplant evaluation has not been demonstrated. Transplant providers may not always be aware of the limitations of genetic testing and may need guidance on comprehending test results and providing counsel, as many centers do not have easy access to a renal genetic counselor or a clinical geneticist. In this practice resource, a working group of nephrologists, geneticists, and a genetic counselor provide a pragmatic, tailored approach to genetic testing, advocating for its use only where the genetic diagnosis or its exclusion can impact the choices available for transplantation or posttransplant management or the workup of living donor candidates at increased risk for heritable disease.