Pediatric Nephrology and Hypertension Services
The division of pediatric nephrology and hypertension at Hasbro Children's Hospital provides evaluation, diagnosis and management of acute and chronic kidney diseases, fluid and electrolyte disorders, and urinary system ailments, including:
- Acute kidney injury
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
- End-stage renal disease (ESRD)
- Congenital renal malformations
- Chronic kidney disease mineral bone disorder (renal osteodystrophy)
- Diabetic nephropathy
- Glomerulonephritis
- Hematuria (blood in the urine)
- Hypertension and metabolic syndrome
- Kidney stones
- Proteinuria and nephrotic syndrome
- Obstructive uropathy
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
- Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)
- Renal tubular disorders
- Systemic lupus erythematosus and lupus nephritis
Our Services
Dialysis
The division provides acute and chronic dialysis care. We make all attempts to schedule outpatient dialysis treatments around school and parental work schedules. Several modalities of dialysis are available: inpatient continuous, veno-venous hemodiafiltration, inpatient hemodialysis and outpatient hemodialysis.
Pediatric Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM)
With the increasing prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome, hypertension in the pediatric population is becoming a major health issue. To more effectively evaluate for hypertension, the division established the only pediatric ABPM program in Rhode Island.
ABPM provides 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, a more accurate way to assess blood pressures in children. Results are reviewed and interpreted by trained pediatric nephrologists.
Pediatric Kidney Transplantation
We offer a comprehensive, multidisciplinary team approach to renal transplants, from initial evaluation through follow-up. This includes the coordination of services from surgery, transplant, nephrology, infectious diseases, social work, case management, nutrition, ICU, anesthesia, pharmacy, child life, psychiatry and other pediatric subspecialties.
Our outcomes are better than national averages, with 100 percent patient survival and 95 percent one-year graft survival.
Pediatric transplants are performed by Paul Morrissey, MD, an accomplished surgeon at Rhode Island Hospital who is experienced in kidney transplantation. We also offer laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.
Hasbro Children’s Hospital also offers the unique Together Through Transplantation program, which allows the child and parental donor to stay together in one room after surgery as they recover.
Learn more about kidney transplants and dialysis
Pediatric Lupus and Vasculitis Clinic
Children with rheumatologic diseases often have complex medical problems, which can involve other organs, including the kidneys. Recognizing the need for multidisciplinary care, the divisions of pediatric nephrology and pediatric rheumatology have collaborated to offer same-day medical services to these children, thus expediting their evaluation and optimizing their care. The clinic is located on the lower level of Hasbro Children’s Hospital.
Combined Nephrology/Urology Clinic
The combined clinic, located in East Providence, provides the expertise of both our pediatric nephrology and pediatric urology programs to diagnose and treat patients. The multidisciplinary clinic treats conditions such as obstructive uropathy, kidney stones, urinary reflux and frequent urinary tract infections.
Other Services
- Nutrition consultation by a pediatric renal dietitian
- Urine microscopic evaluation
- Urine stone analysis
- Ultrasound-guided renal biopsies