A Case of COVID-Associated Nephropathy (COVAN)

Collapsing glomerulopathy is a variant of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) causing rapid renal failure. There has been an emergence of these cases among African American patients with COVID-19, especially those with the apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) allele. We present a case of an African American patient with COVID-19 who tested positive for the APOL1 allele in the setting of acute renal deterioration. This provides a partial explanation for the increased burden of kidney failure in this population. As cases of COVID-19 persist, COVID-associated nephropathy (COVAN) should be suspected in patients with acute kidney injury and treatment tailored accordingly.