Kidney disease and hypertension in children are complicated diseases that require a team of specialists and support personnel. At Arkansas Children’s, we have an experienced team ranging from nationally known surgeons and physicians to social workers and pharmacists – all dedicated to ensuring patients and their families receive the best possible care and support.
Arkansas Children's Hospital provides right-sized care for your child. U.S. News & World Report has ranked Arkansas Children's in seven specialties, including Nephrology, for 2022-2023. Learn more.
This award was developed to be able to publicly recognize organizations that advocate for or promote any and all levels of nephrology nursing certification.
The pediatric nephrology team at Arkansas Children’s treats a wide range of kidney problems ranging from common to complex.
The nephrology service at Arkansas Children's consists of five full-time nephrologists. Primary diagnoses seen are hydronephrosis, prenatal hydronephrosis, kidney abnormalities, kidney stones, urinary tract infections, abnormal kidney function, hematuria, proteinuria and hypertension.
Generally, you will need a referral to the Nephrology Program at Arkansas Children’s from your child’s pediatrician, primary care physician or other specialists. If you do not have a primary care physician, we would be happy to help you locate one by calling 501-364-4000.
Please bring your child’s medical records to your initial appointment.
Arkansas Children’s specialists in nephrology treat children from infancy through adolescence for kidney and urinary tract disease, bladder problems, kidney stones and high blood pressure. Our specially trained pediatric nephrologists diagnose, treat and manage chronic and acute conditions, working with a team of specialists and support personnel to deliver the best possible care to the children and families we serve.
We diagnose and care for even the most complex kidney and urinary tract disorders. If your child has another medical condition that affects kidney function, such as cardiovascular disease, we will work closely with other specialists to achieve the best outcome and quality of life.
At Arkansas Children’s, we are committed to advancing pediatric care through actively participating in clinical trials and research. This focus on discovery brings new information and treatments to patients and their families.
SCOPE Initiative Improves Outcomes
Arkansas Children’s is an active participant in a national effort focused on quality improvements around dialysis. The program, called Standardized Care to Improve Outcomes in Pediatric End-stage Kidney Disease (SCOPE) is a collaborative effort to prevent infections in pediatric peritoneal dialysis. SCOPE is seeking to:
Arkansas Children’s participates in the North American Pediatric Renal Trials and Collaborative Studies (NAPRTCS). This research effort was first organized in 1987 and seeks to register and follow greater than 80% of the children receiving kidney allografts in North America. They also study the clinical course and natural history of patients with kidney dysfunction, following these patients as they move among the end-stage kidney disease (ESRD) therapeutic modalities.
With a commitment to continuous quality improvement, Arkansas Children’s is involved with projects involving kidney disease and hypertension as part of its commitment to continuous quality improvement. Talk with a nephrology physician or nurse to learn more about these projects as well as whether your child might be a candidate for a clinical trial.
For children living with chronic and acute kidney disease, there are limited opportunities to engage in childhood activities. Arkansas Children’s works with families and community organizations to offer educational and enrichment activities that improve our patients’ quality of life. For example, patients with chronic kidney diseases, on dialysis or following kidney transplantation can attend a summer camp at no charge. Families can relax knowing that Arkansas Children’s will be involved in their child’s care at Camp Aldersgate, the only summer medical camp of its kind in Arkansas.
Because children need support year-round, Arkansas Children’s Child Life and Education department addresses the emotional, social, educational and recreational needs of hospitalized children of every age. Our Child Life department is recognized by the American Academy of Pediatrics and accredited by the Association of Child Life Professionals.
Also, children that are on hemodialysis may miss a significant amount of school, so our Child Life specialists coordinate with teachers to deliver lessons. And for those children who can’t join their peers for holiday celebrations, the Child Life department offers activities such as decorating cookies and making decorations.
We know that talking with other families who have been through the same challenges you face can be very helpful. We have a Facebook group with membership limited to those families in our Nephrology Program. Just ask to join and we would be happy to approve your request.
Download this helpful guide for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.
DownloadBrinlee is an energetic 4-year-old from Kirby, Arkansas. She loves to play outside with her dogs Molly and Bella, and tend to the cows with her parents. Just a typical little girl growing up on a farm. Except Brinlee is anything but typical.
Jose Mendoza likes playing soccer, texting on his phone and attending Springdale High School with his friends. He’s a regular teenager who has faced extraordinary obstacles. Jose is blind and is the only one in his family who speaks English. Yet, he doesn’t let anything stop or slow him down, including a new kidney.
Reagan Brown has a family history of kidney disease. So on a routine medical check-up, her mom and doctor discussed family history and decided to check her kidneys. The test came back abnormal. After more tests, Reagan was diagnosed with Stage 3 renal failure at age 11.
Ruby Peeler recently underwent a kidney transplant at Arkansas Children's. Thanks to organ donation, Ruby is celebrating with the kidney transplant team and is now ready to go home. Arkansas Children's is the only certified program in the state-approved to perform kidney transplants in children.
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