This document discusses HIV and its impact on the kidneys. It includes information from a nephrologist and clinical studies showing: 1) HIV can cause kidney disease, most notably HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN), which disproportionately affects African Americans. 2) Early studies from the pre-HAART era in the 1980s-1990s showed high rates of kidney disease and failure in people with HIV. 3) Later studies from the HAART era in the 2000s found lower rates of new kidney disease but higher overall prevalence, suggesting antiretroviral drugs may be improving outcomes for some but also contributing to kidney issues over the long term.