Pediatric Kidney Care

Acute kidney injury

Any sudden loss of kidney function, typically within just a few hours or days. This could be caused by a variety of factors, such as a blocked ureter (the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder) or a reaction to certain illnesses or toxins.

Chronic kidney disease

Gradual loss of kidney function over time due to a chronic medical condition, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, recurring kidney infections, or many others.

Congenital abnormalities of the kidneys and urinary tract (CAKUT)

Structural issues with the kidneys or urinary tract present at birth, such as a missing kidney (renal agenesis) or abnormally small kidneys (renal hypoplasia).

Cystinosis

This condition results in excessive buildup of cystine, a type of amino acid, inside the body’s cells. The most common result is gradually worsening kidney and eye damage, although other organs can also be affected.

Eagle-Barrett syndrome (prune belly syndrome)

Children with this syndrome develop weak abdominal wall muscles (which sometimes causes wrinkled skin like a prune), urinary tract abnormalities (such as an enlarged blader), and undescended testicles in males.

Lowe syndrome 

This complex condition affects the kidneys, brain, and eyes. Kids with Lowe syndrome are born with cataracts in the eyes and frequently develop kidney problems during infancy or early childhood. Other symptoms, such as intellectual disability and developmental delays, are also common.

Polycystic kidney disease 

Fluid-filled sacs called cysts form in the kidneys, which can enlarge the kidneys and cause symptoms like high blood pressure, pain, and eventually kidney failure.

Primary hyperoxaluria

The liver produces too much oxalate, which builds up in kidneys and can combine with calcium to form painful kidney stones.

Renal dysplasia or hypoplasia

Children with this condition are born with underdeveloped kidneys, which tend to be smaller than normal with structural abnormalities. They may function poorly and also develop cysts.

Renal hypoplasia

Children with this condition have one or more kidneys that are smaller than normal and have reduced function, but are otherwise structurally normal.

Renal tubular disorders

In these conditions, the tubules of the kidney aren’t able to filter blood properly, which can upset the delicate balance of water, acid, and minerals like potassium, magnesium, and calcium in the blood. Examples include Bartter syndrome and Gitelman syndrome, both of which are caused by genetic mutations that interfere with the kidney’s ability to recover salt from urine and return it to the bloodstream.

Tuberous sclerosis

This condition causes non‑cancerous tumors to grow in different parts of the body, most often affecting the kidneys.

Bedwetting (enuresis)

Involuntary urination while sleeping. Some bedwetting is normal for young children, but persistent bedwetting (especially after age 7) may be a sign of an underlying medical or behavioral condition.

Glomerulonephritis

Inflammation of the glomeruli, which remove excess fluid and waste products from the bloodstream. Symptoms can include red, pinkish, or foamy urine, as well as nausea, cramping, and fatigue.

Hematuria

This condition occurs when blood is present in the urine. Sometimes the blood can be seen easily, turning the urine pink, red, or brown. Other times it’s only found through a urine test under a microscope. This isn’t a disease on its own, it’s a signal that another issue may be affecting the body, such as an infection, irritation, or injury in the kidneys, bladder, or urinary tract.

IgA nephropathy

Proteins called immunoglobin A (IgA) build up and collect in the glomeruli of the kidneys. This leads to inflammation and gradually weakens the kidney’s ability to remove waste products from the blood.

IgA vasculitis

The small blood vessels of the kidneys, skin, joints, and intestines become inflamed and bleed, causing a noticeable rash (called purpura), particularly on the legs and arms. Joint and abdominal pain are also possible. This condition is particularly common in kids aged 3 to 10.

Proteinuria and nephrotic syndrome

Proteinuria occurs when the kidneys allow too much protein to enter the urine, which causes it to appear foamy or bubbly. Excessive proteinuria, called nephrotic syndrome, can result in dangerously low protein levels in the bloodstream. Signs include swelling (especially around the eyes, ankles, and feet), fatigue, weight gain despite loss of appetite, and other symptoms.

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Bacterial infection in any part of the urinary tract, which may cause symptoms like painful or frequent urination, discolored urine, or pelvic pain.

Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)

This condition causes urine to flow backward from the bladder, up into the urine drainage tube (ureter) and, in severe cases, all the way up to the kidney. This can lead to scarring and damage of the kidney, which is known as reflux nephropathy.

High blood pressure (hypertension)

Consistent high blood pressure is a common cause of chronic kidney disease. Additionally, frequent blood pressure spikes can be a warning sign of an underlying kidney problem. 

Hydronephrosis

This occurs when urine can’t drain properly out of the kidney, causing it to swell. It can happen for many reasons, including a physical blockage in the urinary tract or a backflow of urine from the bladder (vesicoureteral reflux).

Kidney failure

This occurs when the kidneys are no longer capable of functioning well enough on their own to prevent a life-threatening buildup of toxins in the blood. It is the final stage of chronic kidney disease, but may also develop suddenly (and temporarily) due to an acute kidney injury.

Doctors use a thin needle, guided by an imaging tool such as ultrasound, to remove a small amount of kidney tissue. This sample can then be examined or tested for signs of kidney damage or disease.

A variety of medicines may be used to treat, manage, or slow progression of your child’s kidney disease or a related underlying condition. They might include medications for blood pressure, insulin or blood sugar medications for diabetes, immunosuppressants after a kidney transplant, and many others.

These procedures use external dialysis machines to filter your child’s blood when their kidneys are no longer able to function well enough on their own. Types of dialysis we offer include:

Aquapheresis

Treatment that gently removes extra salt and water from the body using a special machine. It works like a controlled form of fluid “filtering” to help people who have swelling or trouble breathing because their kidneys or heart can’t get rid of fluid on their own.

Continuous renal replacement therapy

This type of dialysis slowly and continuously filters your child’s blood 24 hours per day. It is available to children of all ages while they are in the hospital.

Hemodialysis

In this form of dialysis, children go to our in-person dialysis unit regularly — usually at least three times per week — to receive treatment. A typical session lasts about four hours. However, duration and frequency of treatments depend on the circumstances.

Peritoneal dialysis

This type of dialysis can be performed at home. A dialysis solution flows through a tube into your child’s midsection. The solution remains in the body for a prescribed period of time, using the lining of the abdominal wall to filter waste products from the blood. Later, the solutions and waste products are drained from the body and discarded. Most kids will be on continuously cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD), which uses a machine that works overnight while they sleep. However, peritoneal dialysis can also be performed manually without a machine and may be appropriate for some older children and teens.

Your child receives a new, healthy kidney from a donor to replace a failed kidney. Although it does not cure the underlying condition, a transplant can provide a long-lasting solution to end-stage kidney disease and give your child the opportunity to live a longer, healthier life without requiring regular dialysis.

The pediatric kidney transplant program at Corewell Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital was founded in 2005. Our multidisciplinary team includes medical and surgical specialists, psychologists, dieticians, pharmacists, and social workers. We have been nationally recognized for our innovative steroid-avoidance protocols, which helps reduce the risk of post-transplant complications.

Dialysis services are available for transplant patients while they are waiting for a new kidney. However, whenever possible, we strive to be proactive, performing kidney transplants before children with severe kidney disease require dialysis .

Becoming a living donor

Becoming a living donor can save the life of a child waiting on the kidney transplant list. Find out if you’re eligible by completing our donor inquiry form.