Craig Langman, MD Division Head, Kidney Diseases

The Division of Kidney Diseases at Children's Memorial Hospital consists of pediatric medicine subspecialists and scientists who provide comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services for children with acute or chronic kidney problems and disorders of bone and mineral metabolism.

Many medical conditions can affect the kidney, and these conditions may initially present in a variety of ways. Very often the first indication that a child has a kidney disorder is when the primary pediatrician discovers blood or protein in the child's urine. Other times, pediatricians may become concerned about a child's elevated blood pressure or the failure of a youngster to grow normally or they see disturbances in normal bone growth. Sometimes parents may be the first to notice blood in their child's urine, unusual swelling above their child's eyes or elsewhere in their body or become concerned about discomfort or pain their child is experiencing.

However the warning signs are discovered, the staff provides complete evaluation, specialized testing and ongoing therapeutic care including family education, coordination of home health care, and the provision of kidney replacement therapies, such as dialysis and kidney transplantation for kidney failure. Our program is based at the main downtown campus of Children's Memorial Hospital and at Children's Memorial's outpatient facilities.

Furthermore, members of our division are actively engaged in research that has fostered new approaches to both diagnosis and treatment of kidney disorders.