Nephrology is the scientific study of the kidneys, particularly their functions and diseases, and a nephrologist is a physician who specializes in the kidneys. The kidneys remove waste from the body (urine), filter toxins from the blood and help regulate the concentration of certain elements in the blood. Children whose kidneys have become seriously impaired require immediate and specialized medical care.

Pediatric Nephrology Services at Cedars-Sinai offers comprehensive medical services for children with kidney diseases and disorders, from newborns up to 21 years old. Cedars-Sinai is an approved California Children's Services renal center, providing complete diagnostic and treatment services for the full range of kidney conditions, including:

• Acute renal failure
• Blood or protein in the urine
• Diabetic kidney disease
• Glomerulonephritis
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome
• Hydronephrosis
• Hypertension
• Kidney failure
• Kidney stones
• Neurogenic bladder
• Polycystic kidney disease
• Recurrent urinary tract infections
• Renal dysplasia
• Renal tubular acidosis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Vesicoureteral reflux

An accurate and speedy diagnosis is critical to developing an effective treatment plan for patients with life-threatening nephrologic conditions. Pediatric Nephrology Services at Cedars-Sinai offers comprehensive testing and evaluation of the kidneys to definitively diagnosis any problems, as well as to determine the cause. Pediatric Nephrology Services also provides prenatal evaluation and counseling for families whose unborn children are identified with kidney disease. Available testing includes:

• Biopsy
• Blood tests
• Intravenous pyelography
• Nuclear renal scan
• Ultrasound
• Urine analysis

Pediatric Nephrology Services provides the most advanced treatments available for children with nephrologic conditions. Because hospitals can be a frightening place for children, services are delivered within state-of-the-art facilities designed for patient and family comfort, helping to relieve some of the stress of undergoing treatment. Pediatric Nephrology Services also works in partnership with Cedars-Sinai's Pediatric Urology Services to offer complete care for children who have complex urologic problems. In addition, Pediatric Nephrology Services works closely with community agencies to ensure that patients receive the developmental, nutritional, educational and other resources they need. Available treatments include:

• Dialysis
• Drug therapy
• Management of kidney transplant candidates
• Nephrectomy
• Pyeloplasty

The team of specialists at Cedars-Sinai's Pediatric Nephrology Services comprises highly skilled experts in the field of pediatric nephrology. This experienced team collaborates with Cedars-Sinai specialists in other areas, such as dialysis and transplantation, to provide a multidisciplinary continuum of care. Team members include:

• Pediatric nephrologists
• Pediatric nephrology fellows
• Nurse coordinators
• Social workers
• Nutritionists

The experienced team at Cedars-Sinai's Pediatric Nephrology Services works with the referring physician to determine the best course of treatment for each patient and keeps the referring physician apprised of the patient's condition. At the appropriate time, the patient is referred back to the primary care physician for continued management, but the physicians at Cedars-Sinai remain available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide post-treatment support and to serve as an informational resource.

For more information about Pediatric Nephrology Services at Cedars-Sinai or to make a referral, please contact: