Nephrology

Ochsner nephrology provides comprehensive care for several types of kidney conditions, including:

• Acid-base disturbance — an imbalance in the body’s acid levels that can cause problems with systems throughout the body

• Acute kidney injury

• Chronic kidney disease

• Cystic kidney diseases

• Electrolyte abnormalities

• Genetic kidney disease

• Glomerular disease — damage that prevents the kidneys from filtering properly

• Hematuria — blood in the urine

• Nephrolithiasis — kidney stones

• Nephrotic syndrome — too much protein in the urine

• Resistant hypertension — high blood pressure that doesn’t react to medications and is common in patients with chronic kidney disease

We provide comprehensive, leading-edge diagnostic and treatment options, including:

• Acute, in-home and outpatient hemodialysis — a treatment that uses an artificial kidney machine to remove waste and extra fluid from the blood

• Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis — dialysis treatments that are performed throughout the day without the use of a machine

• Continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis — dialysis that is performed at home as you sleep

• Continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration — temporary catheter-based filtration for patients who can’t tolerate dialysis

• Immunosuppression for glomerular disease

• Interventional nephrology procedures, including catheter and stent placements

• Kidney transplant

• Medical therapy for chronic kidney disease

• Peritoneal dialysis — a kidney failure treatment that filters blood while inside your body, using the lining of the abdomen as a natural filter

• Renal biopsy — removal of a small piece of the kidney tissue to evaluate kidney function

• Robotic partial nephrectomy - a robotic-assisted surgery to remove a portion of a kidney because of disease or injury. It is the preferred surgical treatment option for most kidney tumors.

• Sustained low-efficiency dialysis — a form of dialysis, typically used for critically ill patients who have kidney failure

Ochsner takes a multidisciplinary approach to nephrology to help you manage all aspects of kidney care.

Our diverse, multidisciplinary nephrology team includes:

• Board-certified general, interventional and transplant nephrologists

• Caseworkers

• Clinical nurse specialists

• Nurse navigators

• Palliative care specialists

• Renal dietitians

• Social workers

To improve patient outcomes and ensure continuity of care, we also frequently partner with other Ochsner departments and programs, including:

• Cardiology

• Endocrinology

• Primary care

• The Ochsner Transplant Institute

• Urology

Our daily commitment to excellence in kidney care is demonstrated through multiple specialized certifications held by our physicians, including:

• American Hypertension Specialist Certification Program Certified Hypertension Specialist

• American Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology Ultrasound Certification

Ochsner nephrologists and residents actively engage in research and clinical trials to better understand kidney disease, develop new treatment options and improve patient outcomes.

Current and recent research includes studies related to:

• APOL1-associated kidney disease — kidney disease caused by inherited gene mutations

• COVID-19 and acute kidney injury

• Hepatorenal syndrome — kidney failure in patients with advanced chronic liver disease

• IgA nephropathy — inflammation that makes it difficult for the kidneys to filter the blood

• Lupus glomerulonephritis — a form of kidney disease in patients with lupus

• Urine sediment microscopy in advanced kidney care diagnosis

• Vancomycin-associated acute kidney injury — kidney damage caused by the vancomycin, one of the most frequently used antibiotics

Ochsner also offers a nephrology fellowship program to train the next generation of kidney health specialists.

Nephrology is a specialized area of internal medicine. Nephrologists are doctors who are experts in kidney function. They also specialize in how kidney function is involved in or affected by conditions that impact the whole body, such as high blood pressure, also called hypertension. Nephrologists treat kidney diseases that affect how the kidneys work, such as chronic kidney disease. A pediatric nephrologist provides kidney care services to children.

Urologists specialize in all parts of the urinary tract, including the bladder, kidneys and urethra, the tube that carries urine outside the body. They’re also experts in the male reproductive system. While urologists are experts in kidneys, too, they’re primarily concerned with the kidneys’ role in the urinary tract.

The kidneys are bean-shaped organs about the size of your fist. There is one on each side of the body right below the ribs.

Kidneys have two main functions. They filter out extra fluid, toxins and waste from the blood, creating urine. Passing urine helps maintain the body’s healthy balance of minerals, salts and water. Kidneys also make certain hormones, or chemical messengers, that control blood pressure, help create red blood cells and keep bones strong.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition that develops when the kidneys don’t filter out extra fluid, toxins or waste as well as they should. Over time, CKD can lead to:

• Depression

• Heart disease

• Loss of appetite

• More infections

• Poor quality of life

Without treatment, CKD may progress to kidney failure, also called end-stage renal disease.

Some types of early-stage kidney disease don't cause noticeable symptoms, while others do. Three warning signs of chronic kidney disease you might notice are:

• Blood in the urine

• Difficult, frequent or painful urination, especially at night

• Puffiness or swelling around the eyes and in the feet and hands

High blood pressure may be a sign of CKD, too. Blood or urine tests are also used to detect other signs of CKD.

The No. 1 cause of CKD is diabetes. However, there are many other possible causes, including:

• Being born with a kidney abnormality

• Certain chemicals, drugs or toxins

• Kidney stones

• Polycystic kidney disease, an inherited condition

• Uncontrolled or poorly controlled high blood pressure

• Urinary tract infections

Chronic kidney disease is treated through a combination of:

• Avoiding smoking

• Changes in diet

• Getting enough sleep

• Medication or other treatments to help control other chronic conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure

• Mental health support to address depression and manage stress

• Regular exercise

Kidney failure, or end-stage renal disease, is treated with dialysis or a kidney transplant. Dialysis refers to a group of treatments that help the body filter extra fluid, toxins and waste from the blood.