Pediatric Nephrology (Kidney Disease)

Schedule Online Now

The Division of Nephrology (Kidney Disease) at Lurie Children’s is nationally-ranked by U.S. News & World Report for pediatric kidney disorders. We have the region’s largest pediatric kidney diseases (pediatric nephrology) team, caring for more than 4,000 infants, children and adolescents each year.

Our division offers a full scope of care, including dialysis and kidney transplantation for children with kidney failure. Children can also receive multi-organ transplantation, such as liver-kidney transplantation for oxalosis or polycystic kidney disease. We are a world-renowned program, and our outcomes rank among the top centers in the U.S. for both transplant and dialysis. Our Pediatric Kidney Transplantation Program continues to rank among the nation’s ten best pediatric programs and is the largest of its kind in Illinois.


Pediatric Nephrology Specialists

Our entire staff is dedicated to evaluating and treating pediatric patients from infancy through adolescence. Our team has many years of experience and a great depth of knowledge about kidney diseases affecting children and adolescents. Our specialists include:

Our team also works closely with all other Lurie Children’s specialists as needed, including close affiliations with the divisions of Urology, Cardiology, Gastroenterology and Rheumatology.

For physicians who want to specialize in pediatric nephrology, the division has the only comprehensive fellowship training program​ in Illinois, which exposes fellows to a wide array of kidney diseases. Our graduates are leaders in the field around the world.

Meet our Team

Approach

We believe in family-centered care​, which means that we involve the whole family along with the patient to promote the best health outcomes. Our many family support services include:

  • ​A school services program
  • Family education
  • Teen groups
  • Coordination of home healthcare, as needed
  • Prenatal counseling for disorders involving the kidney

Kidney disease can cause other health problems, such as failure to thrive, heart disease, physical limitations and, sometimes, unique behavioral problems. Therefore, it is important that children with kidney disease receive care from many types of healthcare providers who jointly create a care plan. Our multidisciplinary team approach makes it easier for you to see every specialist your child needs, often in the same visit.

The division provides a complete patient evaluation in the outpatient setting at our main hospital, as well as on the kidney diseases inpatient service as needed. We offer specialized tests and kidney biopsy procedures (percutaneously [through the skin] removing a small piece of kidney tissue for inspection under a microscope) when needed. We have pioneered a new method for accurately measuring kidney function called measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR), rather than using estimates.

Our full range of medical and surgical treatments includes kidney replacement therapies such as dialysis and kidney transplants as well as plasma exchange (plasmapheresis) and removal of dangerously elevated cholesterol levels (lipopheresis).

Our team also takes a coordinated specialty care approach for children with multisystem diseases, including tuberous sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, congenital abnormalities of the kidney/urinary tract, primary hyperoxaluria, kidney stones, hypertension and nephropathic cystinosis. 

Our physician-researchers actively conduct research in patients and the laboratory. Our studies are improving kidney disease treatments for children, as well as our knowledge about the genetic basis of kidney diseases.

Our Programs

Our specialists participate in multidisciplinary programs that care for children with kidney diseases, including:

Bone Health Program
Dialysis Program
Epilepsy Tuberous Sclerosis Clinic
Kidney Transplantation Program

We also offer a Pediatric-Adult Transition Program for adolescents and young adults seen in the General Nephrology Clinic at Lurie Children's. Transitioning from a pediatric to an adult medical setting can be challenging for youth who are chronically ill or take a lot of medications. Our joint Pediatric-Adult Transition Program between Lurie Children's and Northwestern Medicine helps to ease this transition. 

Patients are referred to the program by their pediatric nephrologist at Lurie Children’s. During the program, they have their first visit with an adult nephrologist at Lurie Children’s. We review the patient’s medical history, discuss the care plan, review medications, and assess readiness for transition. We maintain a special focus on the social-emotional needs of young adult patients as they transfer their care to an adult facility.

The same adult nephrology team then sets up their next appointment at Northwestern Medicine to continue their care there. In addition to the physician, the program team consists of a social worker and physician assistant who help to ensure a smooth transition and can assist with questions related to insurance coverage, transportation and other needs. 

Conditions We Treat

Our pediatric specialists treat children for all types of kidney diseases and their complications.

Learn More

Make an Appointment

We offer easy online scheduling for your child's nephrology needs. 

Training & Education

For physicians who want to specialize in pediatric nephrology, the division has the only comprehensive fellowship training program​ in Illinois, which exposes fellows to a wide array of kidney diseases. Our graduates are leaders in the field around the world.

Philanthropy

Private contributions help support our training program for fellows and their research, as well as our school services program. Gifts also let us hire talented healthcare professionals.

Your support is vital in helping us continue to make a difference in the lives of patients and families. Lurie Children’s relies on philanthropic funding to enhance its programs, services and research for children. To learn more, please e-mail the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation at foundation@luriechildrens.org or call 312.227.7500.