Over the past decade and a half, the rate of End State Renal Disease (ESRD) among lupus patients has steadily declined and stabilized. That's the good news. Yet, lupus continues to extract a higher toll from ethnic minorities and specifically African Americans, a restrospective study finds.

According to researchers at the Chronic Disease Research Group of the Minneapolis Medical Research Foundation, SLE related ESRD has dropped from 3.2 per million population in 1995-1996 to 1.05 in 2009-2010. African American patients, however, continue to 23% more likely to die from lupus-related End State Renal Disease, and despite being 11% more likely than white patients to be listed for a kidney transplant, are 46% less likely to actually receive one.

More details on the study is available in this news report, and detailed abstract and data is available in the Clinical Journal of American Society of Nephrology.

As 2014 comes to a close, we are excited about what we have accomplished this year, and we are looking forward to the new year with anticipation. As you bring your year to a close, please consider making a tax-deductible gift to the Lupus Foundation of Northern California so that we can continue to make progress for the lupus community here in northern California, and through our advocacy efforts, nationwide.

Here are a few ways to give:

• Donate directly via our website. You can make donations in honor or in memory of a loved one or an occasion, or simply make an individual contribution.
• Become a member. Membership benefits include discounted entry to our medical conferences as well as to our partners at the Tech Museum in San Jose.
• Give to the Annual Fund Campaign.