Nephrology (Kidney) and Hypertension

The Northwestern Medicine Nephrology and Hypertension Program provides diagnosis and treatment for disorders and diseases of the kidneys, as well as hypertension disorders.

Inside each kidney, tiny structures called nephrons filter blood to remove waste products and extra water. This then becomes urine, which is stored in your bladder until it is released.

Northwestern Medicine offers expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney and hypertensive disorders, including diagnosis and management of electrolyte and acid-base problems.

Our medical staff will work with you to control symptoms that negatively affect your health and life while focusing on the treatment and support of your condition or disease.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

CKD is a common kidney condition affecting 37 million people in the U.S. It can be caused by many different diseases, including diabetes and hypertension. Our program is focused on diagnosing the cause of kidney disease and slowing its progression.

The comprehensive CKD team includes physicians, physician assistants, nurses, medical assistants and dietitians. We will work with you to develop an individualized treatment plan, which may include medication therapy, nutritional interventions and opportunities to participate in innovative clinical trials. If we determine that you need kidney replacement treatment, we offer kidney dialysis, including home dialysis therapies, and can collaborate with our colleagues in the comprehensive Northwestern Medicine Organ Transplantation Program.

Lupus Kidney Disease

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect many organs in the body, including the kidneys. It can lead to kidney inflammation, which can cause kidney dysfunction and eventually kidney failure.

Our multidisciplinary program allows you to see two lupus specialists at the same appointment: a rheumatologist, who will focus on general disease management, and a nephrologist, who will specifically evaluate and treat lupus kidney disease. This team approach allows for a specialized and comprehensive treatment plan that is right for you. You may also have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials.

Pediatric to Adult Transition Program

This program focuses on young adults with kidney disease. Transitioning from a pediatric to an adult medical setting can be challenging for youth who are chronically ill. Our joint Pediatric-Adult Nephrology Clinic with the pediatric nephrology physicians at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago helps to ease this transition.

During these appointments, the patient’s history is reviewed and discussed, and their readiness for transition is evaluated. Patients are introduced to the adult nephrology team and Northwestern Medicine processes. We maintain a special focus on the social-emotional needs of these young adult patients. The same adult nephrology team continues to follow these patients after their care is transferred to Northwestern Medicine and also assists in any other specialty transition process.

Onco-nephrology Program

Patients with a variety of cancer diagnoses are at risk for kidney disease. Sometimes this is from direct involvement of the kidney in the cancer process. More often, however, the kidneys are negatively impacted by chemotherapy or immunotherapy medications used to treat other types of cancer.

Our Onco-nephrology Program involves oncologists and a nephrologist who specializes in this type of care. This cooperative interdisciplinary program allows for the comprehensive care of kidney disease associated with all types of cancer.

Home Dialysis

For patients who require kidney replacement therapy, several options are available at Northwestern Medicine. If possible, transplantation, especially living donor transplantation, is our primary goal.

For patients who are ineligible for transplantation or are waiting for a donor kidney, we believe that home dialysis therapies are the best option, allowing for flexibility, convenience and improved quality of life. Our Home First program offers both peritoneal dialysis as well as home hemodialysis options with a dedicated and experienced staff of home therapy nurses, technicians, dietitians and social workers.

Organ Transplantation Program

The kidney and pancreas transplant programs at Northwestern Medicine continue to be leaders in clinical care and innovative research. Rapid access to transplantation and improved clinical outcomes is coupled with world-class research initiatives including tolerance induction trials and non-invasive biomarkers. The transplant team specializes in successfully treating patients that require complex care. Specialty programs include culturally sensitive programs for Hispanic patients and improved access for African American patients.