Pediatric Nephrology Conditions and Treatments
Expert care for common and rare conditions.
Our pediatric nephrology specialists are nationally recognized leaders in kidney care and research. We have the expertise and latest technology to diagnose and treat both common and rare conditions in children and teenagers.
Find a pediatric nephrologist
Our experienced pediatric doctors and specialists are ready to serve you and your family.
Treatments we provide
General nephrology
We provide a complete range of diagnosis and treatment for infants, children and adolescents with kidney and urinary tract disorders. The team works with children on both an inpatient and outpatient basis.
Dialysis
Dialysis is a treatment that cleans the body of waste products and water when your kidneys are no longer able to. We provide two types of outpatient therapy, hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. In-center hemodialysis is performed in our dedicated pediatric dialysis unit.
Kidney transplant
We are the only pediatric nephrology, dialysis and transplant provider in West Michigan. Our pediatric nephrology program offers comprehensive nephrology care for patients in all stages of chronic kidney disease.
Conditions we treat
If you are referred to us, your child may be experiencing one or more of these conditions that can be improved with the specialized care of a pediatric nephrologist. In addition, we offer consultations to expectant mothers when a prenatal ultrasound shows kidney abnormalities in their unborn child.
It’s stressful to learn that your child has a chronic condition like polycystic kidney disease. You’re doing everything right by asking us for expert opinions about your child’s care. Why? Because our children's kidney program has repeatedly been recognized as one of the best in the U.S. Our team will work with you and your child to manage symptoms of polycystic kidney disease as well as slow the decline of kidney function.
Polycystic kidney disease is when kidney cysts form on both kidneys. These fluid-filled pouches replace normal tissue and progressively diminish kidney function. Polycystic kidney disease is the most common inherited disease in the U.S. Symptoms can include headache, backache and blood in the urine. Fifty percent of patients with this condition will have end-stage kidney failure between the ages of 50 and 60, requiring a kidney transplant.
Treatment options
What options are available when your child has kidney cysts and the diagnosis is polycystic kidney disease? Treatment usually begins with medication to control blood pressure and slow the progression of the disease. But polycystic kidney disease can get worse over time, and may lead to kidney failure, so we also offer complete dialysis services for your child. Down the road, if a transplant is needed, you can take comfort in knowing our surgeons are among the most skilled professionals in West Michigan.
Because high blood pressure can worsen polycystic kidney disease symptoms, medicine may be prescribed to manage blood pressure.
Hemodialysis uses a machine to filter waste and extra fluid from the blood. The procedure is usually done in a dialysis center, three or more times a week. Peritoneal dialysis is more commonly used for children.
Peritoneal dialysis is more convenient than hemodialysis. It uses the body's peritoneal membrane to filter the blood continuously from home, during the day or at night.
The non-functioning kidney is replaced with a healthy kidney, from a living donor or through an organ bank. We've had the reward of seeing dozens of Michigan youngsters get a new lease on life, thanks to kidney transplant. Our pediatric kidney transplant program has also been nationally recognized for our steroid avoidance protocol for children with new transplants.
After transplant surgery, immunosuppressant medicine is needed to prevent infection and reduce the chance of your child's body rejecting the new kidney.
It’s stressful to learn that your child has a chronic condition like polycystic kidney disease. You’re doing everything right by asking us for expert opinions about your child’s care. Why? Because our children's kidney program has repeatedly been recognized as one of the best in the U.S. Our team will work with you and your child to manage symptoms of polycystic kidney disease as well as slow the decline of kidney function.
Polycystic kidney disease is when kidney cysts form on both kidneys. These fluid-filled pouches replace normal tissue and progressively diminish kidney function. Polycystic kidney disease is the most common inherited disease in the U.S. Symptoms can include headache, backache and blood in the urine. Fifty percent of patients with this condition will have end-stage kidney failure between the ages of 50 and 60, requiring a kidney transplant.
Treatment options
What options are available when your child has kidney cysts and the diagnosis is polycystic kidney disease? Treatment usually begins with medication to control blood pressure and slow the progression of the disease. But polycystic kidney disease can get worse over time, and may lead to kidney failure, so we also offer complete dialysis services for your child. Down the road, if a transplant is needed, you can take comfort in knowing our surgeons are among the most skilled professionals in West Michigan.
Because high blood pressure can worsen polycystic kidney disease symptoms, medicine may be prescribed to manage blood pressure.
Hemodialysis uses a machine to filter waste and extra fluid from the blood. The procedure is usually done in a dialysis center, three or more times a week. Peritoneal dialysis is more commonly used for children.
Peritoneal dialysis is more convenient than hemodialysis. It uses the body's peritoneal membrane to filter the blood continuously from home, during the day or at night.
The non-functioning kidney is replaced with a healthy kidney, from a living donor or through an organ bank. We've had the reward of seeing dozens of Michigan youngsters get a new lease on life, thanks to kidney transplant. Our pediatric kidney transplant program has also been nationally recognized for our steroid avoidance protocol for children with new transplants.
After transplant surgery, immunosuppressant medicine is needed to prevent infection and reduce the chance of your child's body rejecting the new kidney.
Additionally, we have expertise in treating:
- Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
- Bed wetting
- Blood in urine (hematuria)
- Chronic and end-stage kidney disease
- Excess protein in urine (proteinuria)
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Kidney biopsies
- Kidneys swollen with urine (hydronephrosis)
- Lupus
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Tuberous sclerosis
- Urinary tract infections
Provider referral
Information on referring to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital