Nephrology and Hypertension

Yawkey Center for Outpatient Care, Suite 6C
Phone: 617-726-2908 | Fax: 617-724-0581

The full-service Pediatric Nephrology and Hypertension Unit at MassGeneral Hospital for Children (MGHfC) emphasizes personalized, prompt and friendly consultation and care for both inpatients and outpatients. We offer comprehensive evaluation and management of all disorders of the kidneys and urinary tract that may affect infants, children and adolescents. Children seen as outpatients are evaluated in the welcoming, friendly environment of the Pediatric subspecialty clinic in the Yawkey Center on the MGH Main Campus. Our location within a world-renowned academic medical center allows access to the experienced subspecialists and the cutting edge technology at MGHfC.

Our physicians specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of all aspects of kidney disease in infants, children, and adolescents, including:

• Hematuria
• Proteinuria
• Hypertension
• Voiding disorders
• Kidney Stones / Nephrocalcinosis
• Glomerular disease
• Urinary Tract Infections / Pyelonephritis
• Vesicoureteral Reflux and Reflux Nephropathy
• Nephrotic Syndrome
• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Obstructive Uropathy
• Renal cystic diseases (including Polycystic Kidney Disease and Tuberous Sclerosis Complex)
• Congenital renal diseases
• Metabolic diseases that affect the kidneys
• Renal tubular diseases

Comprehensive renal diagnosis is performed with on-site urinary microscopy, renal functional studies, imaging studies, and, when indicated, renal biopsy and genetic studies.

Specialty Programs within Nephrology

While our specialists see children and adolescents with all forms of kidney disease, our division offers several further specialized clinics within Nephrology to address very specific conditions:

Hypertension Clinic: The Pediatric Hypertension Clinic at the MassGeneral Hospital for Children offers comprehensive evaluation and management of children with all causes of hypertension. We have a full consultative team including members of the Cardiology, Gastroenterology and Nutrition Units. Children with hypertension are more likely to have kidney conditions that cause high blood pressure and need a more detailed diagnostic evaluation than adults in order to understand and treat their high blood pressure conditions. Unfortunately, obesity can also cause high blood pressure, and the growing number of children with obesity has led to a surge in the prevalence of pediatric hypertension. Because of the association between long-term cardiovascular disease and hypertension, our approach to high blood pressure in children includes an evaluation of associated cardiovascular risk factors, such as hyperlipidemia, diabetes, obesity, and family risk factors.

Chronic Kidney Disease and Renal Transplantation: Our division works conjointly with the MGH Division of Transplant Surgery and the MGH Dialysis Units to provide full and coordinated care in the evaluation and treatment of chronic renal failure and end-stage renal disease. We work closely with families to choose hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, or renal transplantation as the best option for their child's renal replacement therapy. Social services, renal dietitians, nutritionists and renal nursing are an integral part of the available resources.

Kidney Stones (Nephrolithiasis): Our kidney stone program includes a complete metabolic evaluation of all children with kidney stones. We work closely with the Division of Pediatric Urology to provide complete care of children with stones. Our division also conducts research on the genetic and molecular basis of kidney stones in children and their families.

Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC): Our division is the pediatric renal referral center of The Carol and James Herscot Center for TSC at Massachusetts General Hospital . In collaboration with pediatric radiologists and interventionalists, we diagnose, monitor and treat all kidney problems of children with TSC.

At MassGeneral Hospital for Children, we know that the time of your child's diagnosis and treatment may be very stressful, and we strive to provide an open, welcoming and supportive environment. We believe that no one knows a child as well as his or her parents. Parents, along with primary care providers, become our partners in a child's care and have an active voice in all treatment plans.