Nephrology Services (Kidney Care)

The Rush Approach to Kidney Care

Whether you have mild or severe kidney disease, you will find the care you need at Rush. Our nephrologists are internationally renowned for their clinical expertise and have developed innovative tests and treatments for kidney disease.

For instance, they determined how to slow the progression of kidney disease in people with diabetes, and now their recommendations have been adopted as standards of care by the American Diabetes Association.

At Rush, your kidney care will focus on the following:

• Diagnosing the cause of your kidney disease (for example, diabetes, high blood pressure, glomerulonephritis)
• Curing your disease, when possible
• Managing your symptoms and risks for related diseases, such as heart disease
• Slowing the progression of your disease
• Improving your quality of life
• Helping you prepare for dialysis, or a kidney or kidney-pancreas transplant if you develop end-stage kidney disease.

Rush Excellence in Kidney Care

• Groundbreaking research: Our kidney specialists have gained worldwide attention for their medical research, which helps ensure you have access to the most advanced care available. For instance, we've developed a special medication regimen for people with diabetes and high blood pressure. We've also identified a disease marker for kidney disease called suPAR. Eventually, a simple blood test will be able to detect suPAR and reliably predict a person’s chances of developing chronic kidney disease.
• Slowing disease progression: In addition to treating the underlying cause of your kidney disease, such as managing your high blood pressure, we can help you make healthy lifestyle changes that can prevent additional kidney damage and reduce your risk of other diseases, including heart disease. For example, dietitians at Rush can help you design a healthy diet.
• A collaborative, expert team: Our nephrologists work closely with other Rush specialists to treat conditions that are causing your kidney disease, as well as health issues that you develop as a result of your kidney disease, such as anemia.
• Dialysis access procedures: If you are on dialysis, you will need to have clear "vascular access," or a way for your blood to be removed from your body, filtered by the dialysis machine and returned to your body. Rush's interventional nephrology program specializes in establishing and maintaining vascular access, through the placement and management of hemodialysis fistulae, grafts and catheters.
• A world-class kidney transplant team: Rush has one of the nation's best transplant success rates, with 100% one-year survival since 2006, according to the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients. Our kidney and kidney-pancreas transplant teams are highly experienced in caring for patients who might be considered too high risk for a transplant at other hospitals.