What it does
Variants are strongly associated with kidney disease risk.
Why this matters for Black patients
APOL1 G1 and G2 risk alleles are concentrated in African ancestry (~13 percent carry two risk alleles). Carriers face high rates of FSGS, hypertensive nephropathy, and HIV-associated nephropathy. Some donor-organ matching now incorporates APOL1 status.
Common variants
| Variant | Phenotype | African | European |
|---|---|---|---|
| G1 | Risk allele | 0.200 | 0.000 |
| G2 | Risk allele | 0.130 | 0.000 |
Note: This page is reference information, not medical advice. Pharmacogenomic differences are about ancestry, not race; race is an imperfect proxy. Discuss any medication changes with your prescriber.