End-Stage Renal Disease Program

Who we are

The End-Stage Renal Disease Program at Boston Children's Hospital provides comprehensive care, including medical management, dialysis and transplantation, for children with end-stage renal disease. Our clinical staff includes a number of experts from various subspecialties who work as a team to deliver the most consistent and comprehensive care to each child we see. 

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is also known as chronic kidney failure. It occurs when a child’s kidney becomes progressively unable to perform its functions, such as cleaning waste and toxins from the blood and regulating the level of red blood cells the body produces. ESRD can be treated with dialysis or a kidney transplant. 

Children in our program are seen in both the Dialysis Unit and pediatric Kidney Transplant Program here at Boston Children’s. Close collaboration between staff in these two programs ensures extensive knowledge and experience in kidney transplantation of infants and children.

Our staff

Our comprehensive evaluation process involves consultations with many specialists, including surgeons, dialysis nurses, nutritionists, social workers and psychologists.

We are also closely integrated with the Boston Children’s Division of Nephrology, which offers a continuum of services, from diagnosis and treatment of renal disorders to pediatric dialysis and kidney transplantation.

Our expertise

We provide a continuum of care to patients, from infants to young adults, who have conditions that result in end-stage renal disease. The conditions we treat include congenital and familial disorders of kidney development and acquired diseases such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and lupus. 

In addition to providing expert diagnosis and treatment, we plan individualized therapy for your child. Our goals include: 

• Preserving your child's growth and development by integrating schooling into her treatment plan 
• Collaborating with experts in other fields to help manage any complications that may arise, including bone disease, high blood pressure (hypertension), nerve damage and too few red blood cells (anemia)
• Providing guidance on behavioral and financial issues 
• Assisting in arranging transportation and home support, including visiting nursing services when appropriate