Pediatric kidney care at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital
Board-certified pediatric nephrologists at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital have the expertise to diagnose, treat and manage kidney diseases in infants, children and teens. We provide the advanced care your child needs right here in Indianapolis – from consultation and long-term therapeutic treatments to kidney transplant. We also provide diagnosis and treatment of prenatal kidney conditions.
Diagnosing kidney conditions
Your child’s doctor starts by listening to you and your child. Diagnostic tests may be recommended, such as blood tests, urine tests or imaging. By understanding your child’s symptoms and through testing, we make a diagnosis and create a care plan that’s right for your child.
We diagnose and treat all types of kidney conditions, including:
- Chronic kidney disease
- Congenital abnormalities of the kidneys
- Glomerulonephritis (inflammation in the kidneys)
- Hematuria (blood in the urine)
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Kidney failure, such as end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and acute kidney injury
- Metabolic diseases of the kidney, such as kidney stones and renal tubular acidosis
- Nephrotic syndrome (when the kidneys release too much protein into the urine)
- Proteinuria (high levels of protein in the urine)
A multidisciplinary approach to kidney care
Your child’s care team includes pediatric nephrologists, nephrology nurse practitioners, nephrology-trained nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, social workers, and more. If your child’s kidney disease is related to another condition, we work with other pediatric specialists at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital, including neurologists, cardiologists, intensive care specialists, dietitians and more. By collaborating as a multidisciplinary team, we deliver comprehensive care for children with even the most complex kidney conditions.
Advanced care for kidney disease
When your child has a kidney condition, you're in the right place with doctors who provide some of the most advanced treatments, including:
- Diet and lifestyle modifications to support kidney health
- Medication management
- Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
- Dialysis
- Genetic testing
- Kidney transplantation
- Therapeutic apheresis (plasma exchange)
Dialysis (peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis)
When your child has kidney failure, their kidneys don’t filter blood the way they should. This can lead to a buildup of fluid and waste in their bloodstream. Dialysis is a treatment option that helps do the job of the kidneys. And it can help your child stay healthy until they have a kidney transplant.
Kidney transplant
We accept family and doctor referrals for kidney transplantation. Your child will be evaluated by our pediatric kidney transplant team. If they are a candidate for a transplant, we create a care plan to keep your child as healthy as possible while they are waiting for their new kidney. We work with a large network of doctors and specialists across the Midwest to match your child with a kidney as soon as possible.
Supportive care for your child and family
Kidney disease and kidney transplantation can be an emotional journey. We take a family-centered approach and focus on the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of your child and your family. Your child’s care team includes therapists, counselors, dietitians, pharmacists, financial advisors, and more. We work together with the goal to help ensure a smoother and faster recovery.
Pediatric hypertension care
Symptoms of high blood pressure in children may include headaches, visual changes, dizziness, frequent nosebleeds, heart palpitations and nausea. More commonly, children do not have any symptoms. When left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to damage to the heart, kidneys and eyes.
Our pediatric nephrologists specialize in treating hypertension in children and help manage your child’s condition using a personalized approach based on your child’s health needs. Your child’s care team includes a dietitian to help your child and family better understand how food choices impact your child’s health. Your child’s care team also includes a clinical pharmacist to help you understand your child’s medications and their effect on the blood pressure.
If your child’s high blood pressure is caused by another health condition, such as a hormone imbalance or vascular condition, other pediatric specialists at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital become part of your child’s care team. We work together to manage your child’s blood pressure, address the cause, and help prevent future complications.