Pediatric Nephrology

Caring for young patients with kidney or urological disorders.

Pediatric nephrology deals specifically with the diagnosis and care of children with kidney or urologic (urinary) problems. The Pediatric Nephrology Department at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis is a leader in diagnosing and treating infants, children and teens with kidney (renal) problems, including both acute and chronic disorders.

Our team includes physicians, renal nurses, renal dietitians, renal social workers, and play therapists who treat both acute and chronic disorders. We provide full dialysis services through our dedicated pediatric dialysis unit.

We're one of the best for pediatric kidney care.

U.S. News & World Report has named SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital as one of the best nephrology programs in the country.

Learn more about our U.S. News & World Report rankings.

Our doctors, nurses, dieticians and social workers believe the best care is timely and consistent, and develops over time to meet the unique needs of your child and family. Along with excellent treatment, we provide you the follow-up care and support including a summer camp for children on dialysis, counseling, and activities to help your child get the most out of treatment and life.

What kidney and urological conditions do you treat?

Families across the region count on us to deliver exceptional care and advanced treatment of renal diseases and other kidney problems. Combining sophisticated diagnostics with state-of-the-art clinical skills, we treat the following conditions:

• Congenital and hereditary disorders involving the kidney and urinary tract
• Urinary tract infections
• Kidney stones
• Hypertension
• Acute and chronic glomerular and tubular disorders
• Renal diseases caused by systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetes mellitus and vasculitis

SLUCare Physician Group nephrology services:

• Acute and chronic hemodialysis
• Acute and chronic peritoneal dialysis
• Acute hemofiltration
• Home training program in peritoneal dialysis
• Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) for critically ill infants and children
• Plasmapheresis in conjunction with hematology/oncology services
• Percutaneous renal biopsy

Our specialists, along with SLUCare transplant surgeons, also care for renal transplant recipients. Our doctors perform transplants using organs from deceased, living related and living unrelated donors.

How do the kidneys work?

The kidneys are the two bean-shaped organs on either side of the abdomen that help your body control water levels and eliminate waste through urine. Acting as your body’s filtering system, your kidneys also help regulate blood pressure, red blood cell production, and the levels of calcium and minerals in the body.

Injury, infection, high blood pressure, and genetic problems can cause damage to your kidneys, resulting in decreased function, kidney disease, or kidney failure. Some of these problems can be diagnosed and treated before a baby is born while others may appear later in a child’s life.

If your child is at risk of kidney problems, doctors will order urine tests, blood tests, imaging studies, and in some cases, a biopsy, to determine the health of your child’s kidneys and next steps in your child’s care.

We offer regular consultative services and clinics.

The Nephrology Department at Cardinal Glennon offers regularly scheduled consultative services for dialysis, kidney transplant, and hypertension.

Does Cardinal Glennon have a pediatric dialysis unit?

Pediatric dialysis is always available. Our dedicated unit offers hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, dialysis to inpatients with portable dialysis machines, and education for families who choose to dialyze at home. If your child requires dialysis, they will see a specialized team focused on their medical, emotional and social needs. This team includes:

• Pediatric dialysis doctors
• Certified pediatric nurse practitioners
• Social workers and dietitians
• Child life specialists

Cardinal Glennon pediatirc renal transplantation program:

With extremely high survival rates and excellent outcomes, our transplant program is one of the best in the country. The program also meets Medicare’s health and safety standards (CMS-certified) and is one of 16 kidney transplant clinics participating in the Improving Renal Outcomes Collaborative (IROC).

Does Cardinal Glennon have a hypertension clinic?

For the ongoing treatment of hypertension, the Comprehensive Hypertension Program provides a weekly clinic and regular follow-up and support for children in the ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) program.

Research on Chronic Kidney Disease

Our SLUCare Physician Group nephrologists at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine participate in two studies funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The studies are designed to better treat glomerular diseases, chronic kidney, and end stage renal disease (ESRD) in children. To refer a patient to this program, call 314-577-5662.

Our doctors have access to the 3D Printing Center of Excellence.

For complex medical cases that require surgery, our health professionals use our 3D Printing Center of Excellence to create detailed kidney models unique to the individual. This allows for presurgical and preprocedural planning to improve patient outcomes and care.