Division of Nephrology
UCMG physicians within the Division of Nephrology treat children with a wide range of both acquired and inherited kidney disorders on both a consultative and, to a much lesser degree, primary care basis. Disorders include end stage renal disease, renal transplants recipients, urinary tract infection, hypertension, nephrotic syndrome, acute renal failure and various other acquired diseases and injuries.
Over the years, thousands of children from infancy through adolescence have received expert care through the Division of Nephrology physicians and staff. UCMG Division physicians achieved early widespread recognition in 1967 when they became one of the first groups in the nation to provide comprehensive dialysis services to children suffering from advanced kidney diseases. Since then, vast improvements in both dialysis technology and clinical expertise have become available within the Division, enabling the smallest of children including very small newborns, to receive safe, effective dialysis.
UCMG physicians in the Divison of Nephrology also see patients in the UCMG Encino office
Description of Programs and Services
- General Nephrology
UCMG Divisional physicians see patients with a wide range of general nephrologic problems referred by community physicians. The patient problems include diagnoses such as hematuria, proteinuria, urinary tract infection, nephrotic syndrome, hypertension and congenital anatomic abnormalities. We make every effort to see patients quickly (within 24-48 hours) when needed and to rapidly correspond with the referring physician. Additionally, we place great emphasis on not duplicating test studies already performed by the referring physician.
- Dialysis
UCMG Division physicians currently care for approximately 65 patients who are undergoing chronic dialysis. Approximately two-thirds of the group are undergoing chronic peritoneal dialysis and the remainder are on chronic hemodialysis. Peritoneal dialysis is preferentially used to treat young, small patients since we can train families to do this procedure at home.
Peritoneal dialysis also is primarily used to manage patients with acute reversible renal failure. The Division supplies support to other subspecialty areas of the hospital whose patients may need dialysis because of acute reversible renal failure.
- Renal Transplantation Program
In conjunction with the Department of Surgery, including the Divisions of Urology and Pediatric Surgery, members of the Division of Nephrology care for patients who receive renal transplants. The source of the transplant is either living related donor (usually a parent) or a cadaveric donor. The Program is extremely successful with both patient and graft survival statistics that rival the best programs in the United States. This, in large measure, is due to a multidisciplinary program involving an extremely close and excellent working relationship between surgeons, nephrologists, nurses, social workers and dietitians.
- Carl M. Grushkin, M.D., Division Head
- Donna D. Elliott, M.D.
- Gary R. Lerner, M.D.
- Mark I. Mentser, M.D.
- Lawrence Opas, M.D.
HOW TO CONTACT US
The Division of Nephrology welcomes your inquiries. To contact us you can:
E-mail us at: |
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cgrushkin@chla.usc.edu |
Call the Division directly at: |
(323) 669-2102 |
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Fax us at: |
(323) 668-1829 |
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Write to us at: |
Division of Nephrology Childrens Hospital Los Angeles 4650 Sunset Blvd., #40 Los Angeles, CA 90027-6062 |
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