Nephrology

The Division of Pediatric Nephrology at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh provides a full range of services for the evaluation and management of children with simple or complex nephrologic or urologic disorders, including:

• Complex and serious disorders resulting in end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis and/or transplantation
• Electrolyte disturbances
• Glomerulonephritis
• Hematuria
• Pediatric hypertension
• Proteinuria
• Urinary tract infections

Programs and Services

 

The staff is well equipped to provide both acute and chronic management of various kidney problems, and consultative services to other departments within the hospital and to community physicians. Inpatient and outpatient consultations are available for children with electrolyte and acid-base disorders. The division works in a multidisciplinary fashion to provide the most advanced kidney replacement therapies in acutely ill children. Therapies include acute hemodialysis, hemofiltration/hemo-diafiltration (CVVH/CVVHD), the new Aquadex therapy, and acute peritoneal dialysis for patients weighing under 2kg. We perform specialized techniques for continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT) including circuit to circuit exchanges, tandem CKRT with therapeutic plasma exchange as well as tandem CKRT with therapeutic plasma exchange for patients receiving extracorporeal therapy. We offer multiple strategies for anticoagulation including heparin, citrate, argatroban and prostacyclin, allowing us to successfully dialyze critically ill patients with multiple co-morbidities.

Staff members work closely with urologic and pediatric surgeons to provide comprehensive management of patients. 

Research and Clinical Studies

As a nationally recognized research center, UPMC Children’s Hospital’s Division of Pediatric Nephrology participates in the latest clinical studies, which involve human volunteers and are intended to add to our medical understanding.

Nephrology Fellowship Program

The Division of Pediatric Nephrology offers a three-year ACGME-accredited fellowship program with two positions per year. The training program is funded with a prestigious NIH T32 training grant.  It offers outstanding opportunities for both clinical and research training.

Referral Requirements

Referrals are required from primary care physicians or other Children’s Hospital specialty services. Referrals for patients enrolled in managed care insurance plans also may require authorization from the insurance provider and primary care physician. All necessary referral and authorization forms must be received before the patient’s visit. For accurate provider numbers or more information, please call the office number listed.

The referring physician should supply:

• All medical summaries
• Radiologic studies, including films and reports
• Biopsy materials (when available)