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Pediatric nephrology and transplant nephrology

Pediatric nephrology has a long tradition in Marburg. It deals with the research and treatment of rare diseases of the kidneys in children, pediatric dialysis, and pediatric kidney transplants. We thus offer our patients all options for renal replacement therapy and treatment of chronic renal insufficiency. Today, these are still our focus areas in the care of both pediatric and adolescent patients. This makes us the only pediatric nephrology center in Hesse that can offer you all options for renal replacement therapy and the treatment of chronic renal insufficiency. Our sections for pediatric endocrinology and pediatric pulmonology offer a wide range of specialized diagnostics and treatment.

Pediatric nephrology

Our pediatric nephrology team treats all acute and chronic diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract. Outpatient, day-clinic and inpatient treatment plans are available to you and your child.

Outpatient treatment is handled at our university outpatient clinic during various special consultation hours.

Special outpatient clinics:

Consultation hour for children with chronic renal failure
Consultation hour for children with rare kidney diseases
Consultation hour for children with bladder-emptying disorders
Transplant consultation hour

Registration is handled through the university outpatient clinic at tel. 06421 / 58-62668 Mondays through Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Fridays from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Extensive diagnostic and minor therapeutic procedures can be performed in our interdisciplinary day clinic. For example, a day-clinic admission can be done in the case of:

Suspicion of a complex bladder-emptying disorder, possibly with wetting symptoms (urodynamics, urotherapy)
Suspicion of a rare congenital kidney disease (genetic diagnostics)
Initial preparations for a planned listing for kidney transplant
Follow-up examinations after a kidney transplant (annual check-up)
Therapeutic infusion treatments (eculizumab, rituximab, plasma infusions, etc.)
Chronic dialysis treatment (hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, immune adsorption, lipid apheresis, etc.) takes place at our KfH (Home Dialysis Board) Children’s Kidney Center Marburg (GER).

Inpatient treatment of all acute and chronic kidney diseases in children in adolescents, including diseases of the urinary tract and bladder, is provided at our pediatric kidney ward 41B. Here, an experienced team of pediatric nephrologists, pediatric nurses, physical therapists, and social and nutritional counselors will take care of your child’s needs. We take an interdisciplinary and holistic approach.

Necessary surgical interventions involving the kidneys and urinary tract are planned together with the Clinic for Pediatric Surgery and Pediatric Urology (GER).

Kidney transplants are performed at the Transplant Center Marburg (GER). Children are prepared for the transplant procedure at our pediatric kidney ward 41B. After transplantation, care is provided at our pediatric intensive care unit by an experienced team equipped to meet your child’s needs.

Spectrum of treatment

We treat the whole spectrum of acute and chronic diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract in children and adolescents:

Congenital abnormalities of the kidneys and urinary tract (single kidney, double kidney, kidneys with dysplasia, kidneys with cysts, urinary transport disorders, megaureter, megacystis, posterior urethral valves)
Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, HNF1B nephropathy
Nephrotic syndrome with complex courses (frequent recurrences, steroid dependence, genetic forms of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), congenital nephrotic syndrome)
Inflammatory changes in the kidneys (pyelonephritis/inflammation of the kidney, glomerulonephritis, autoimmunological kidney diseases, SLE, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, IgA nephritis)
Renal tubular disorders (salt wasting syndromes, Bartter syndrome, Gitelman syndrome, transient Bartter syndrome with polyhydramnios, hypomagnesemia, tubular acidosis, Fanconi syndrome, Dent’s disease, phosphate diabetes, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, and others)
Disorders of the vitamin D metabolism
Disorders of the cobalamin metabolism
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (typical/atypical), other complement diseases (C3 nephropathy)
Arterial hypertension including rare genetic forms (Graham-Little syndrome, Gordon syndrome)

In severe cases, a kidney biopsy may be necessary to confirm a diagnosis.

A kidney biopsy (tissue sample taken through a puncture needle) is often performed to diagnose an unexplained kidney disease. The result can be very important to deciding on further therapy. It is a short-duration procedure under ultrasound guidance and is routinely performed at our clinic. You should allow three days for the inpatient procedure and monitoring of your child. After the biopsy, a normal adhesive bandage is sufficient to cover the small skin defect. You will receive the results of the biopsy after approximately 3-5 days. Together with you, we will then determine how to proceed.

Transplant nephrology

In addition to pediatric nephrology, transplant nephrology is the second pillar of the Clinic for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine.

Kidney transplantation is a special challenge for pediatric patients and their families.

The Clinic for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine II thus works intensively with the KfH (Home Dialysis Board) Pediatric and Adolescent Kidney Center Marburg and the Transplant Center of University Hospital Marburg (GER).

This close interlocking of surgical, outpatient and inpatient treatment allows us to provide optimal guidance for families before, after and during a transplant.

General information as well as data, facts and figures on the topics of organ donation and transplantation can be found on the website of the German Foundation for Organ Transplantation (DSO) and on the website of the German Transplantation Society (DTG) (GER).