Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program

At the Pediatric Kidney Transplant Program, we provide specialized care for conditions that affect the kidneys in children. Our pediatric imaging specialists, nephrologists, endocrinologists, and surgeons work together to diagnose and provide a personalized treatment plan to address your child’s needs.  

As an American College of Surgeons designated Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center, Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone provides the safest, highest level of surgical care to your child. We also offer support for children, parents, and other caregivers through Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care. 

Kidney Disease in Children 

The kidneys are responsible for filtering blood and removing excess fluid and waste products from the body, which then leave the body as urine. The kidneys regulate blood pressure, ensure electrolyte and acid–base balance, and help with the production of new bone tissue and red blood cells. 

Impaired kidney function can lead to chronic kidney disease, which puts your child at risk of high blood pressure, electrolyte imbalances, anemia, and bone loss.  

Chronic kidney disease in children, which experts in our Pediatric Nephrology Program help manage, may arise from a congenital kidney condition. Children may also develop kidney disease from underlying diabetes, lupus, glomerulonephritis, or other autoimmune disorders.  

Chronic kidney disease may progress to end-stage renal disease. At this point dialysis, a treatment that uses a machine to remove fluid and waste from the blood, is needed. A doctor may recommend transplants for patients who are on dialysis or even those who haven’t yet started dialysis.  

Expert Diagnosis and Treatment 

Our pediatric nephrologists are experts at diagnosing chronic kidney disease in children and creating treatment plans that may include nutrition guidance and medication based on your child’s symptoms and prognosis. 

Kidney Transplants for Children 

If a kidney transplant proves to be the best treatment option, our doctors may perform one of the following surgeries:  

• living donor transplant, where a person, often a sibling or other family member, donates a kidney to a child 
• kidney transplant from a deceased donor 

Our kidney transplant services are offered through the NYU Langone Transplant Institute. 

Support Services 

Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care provides support services for you, your child, and other family members. These include child life services, a social worker, and a registered dietitian. We want you and your child to understand all aspects of treating chronic kidney disease, including transplant. This includes the options of living donor transplant or transplant from a deceased donor, in addition to recovery after transplant and ongoing follow-up care. We coordinate with our NYU Langone colleagues to provide a seamless transition from pediatric to adult care, ensuring that your child continues to receive the health provider support needed later in life.