Genetic testing for renal diseases: Medical and ethical considerations

Advances in understanding the genetic basis of renal disorders will soon al low for the clinical use of genetic diagnostic testing. In this article, we review renal diseases with a known genetic basis and the current methods a vailable for genetic testing. We then examine the potential medical indicat ions for genetic testing, with special attention to autosomal dominant poly cystic kidney disease (ADPKD), Because clinicians will be faced with patien ts considering genetic testing, we review the ethical considerations regard ing genetic testing for renal diseases, recent genetic privacy legislation, and the special role genetic testing may have in transplantation. We concl ude with a review of the necessary elements of informed consent, which prov ides the ethical foundation for patients deciding about genetic testing wit h the assistance of their physicians. (C) 1998 by the National Kidney Found ation, Inc.