Nephrology: Expert care for kidney disease

High blood pressure (hypertension) can be a cause of kidney disease. It can also be a complication of kidney disease. UW Health’s Advanced Hypertension Program treats people who have early or progressive kidney disease. Our providers work with other specialists to help keep your blood pressure in check.

Dialysis is a treatment that takes over some of the work of your kidneys. We have an inpatient dialysis unit at University Hospital and serve children through American Family Children’s Hospital. Outpatient dialysis is also offered in the Madison area through Fresenius Kidney Care.

A kidney transplant may be an option for those with chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease. We’ve done more than 10,000 kidney transplants and have one of the largest programs in the country. Our clinic offers complete care for people who have had transplants.

Those with lupus might develop a unique type of kidney disease called lupus nephritis. Our kidney specialists work closely with rheumatologists to provide care for this condition.

Some people have severe, long-term kidney pain. The best treatment can be a kidney autotransplant. This surgery involves taking out the kidney and ureter (the duct that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder) that are causing the problem. Surgeons relocate them to a different part of your body. The kidney continues to function and you typically get relief. We care for you through our specialty clinic.

• Acute kidney injury and failure

• Advanced high blood pressure 

• Anemia related to kidney disease 

• Blood in the urine (hematuria)

• Bone disease related to kidney disease 

• Chronic kidney disease 

• Chronic pyelonephritis 

• Diabetic nephropathy 

• End-stage renal disease 

• Fluid and electrolyte disorders 

• Glomerular disease 

• Glomerulonephritis 

• Hypertensive kidney disease

• Kidney stones: Adult | Pediatric

• Lupus nephritis

• Polycystic kidney disease 

• Protein in the urine (proteinuria)

• Cannula placement through the skin using ultrasound guidance 

• Complete dialysis (hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis) care

• Continuous renal replacement therapy, including citrate anticoagulation for people who are critically ill

• Kidney transplantation 

• Needle biopsy of the kidney through the skin using real-time ultrasound guidance. Watch video