Department of Pediatric Nephrology - Pediatric Diagnostic Hospital M1 Munich

About the Department of Pediatric Nephrology at Pediatric Diagnostic Hospital M1 Munich

The Department of Pediatric Nephrology at the Pediatric Diagnostic Hospital M1 Munich offers the full range of services in this medical field. The department's team of doctors admits children and adolescents with various diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract. Young patients with kidney lesions caused by systemic diseases can also seek medical attention at the healthcare facility. The state-of-the-art systems for ultrasound scans are available in the department's diagnostic rooms. Doctors also have all the necessary resources to carry out an expanded range of laboratory tests of the urinary system. Radioisotope tests are also available, and these are conducted in cooperation with partner medical facilities. A treatment regimen for each child is individual and is usually based on drug therapy. Doctors strictly follow current clinical protocols and the recommendations of professional societies. All conditions are created in the department so that children feel as comfortable as possible and do not experience any fear of the upcoming treatment. The department is headed by Dr. med. Markus Benz.

Treatment of glomerulonephritis in children is one of the priorities of the department's doctors. This pathology affects the renal glomeruli, which filter the blood. Glomerulonephritis is accompanied by a number of unpleasant symptoms, including fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, general malaise, facial and body swelling, increased or decreased blood pressure, urinary disorders, etc. If left untreated, glomerulonephritis may lead to kidney failure, uremia, a brain hemorrhage, or other severe complications. To make a diagnosis, the department's specialists conduct a number of laboratory tests, including a complete blood count, a urinalysis, a urine culture, and other tests. An integral part of the diagnostic process is an ultrasound scan of the kidneys, bladder, and urinary tract. A kidney biopsy is often required, the results of which determine the tactics of further treatment. Whenever required, other types of hardware diagnostics can be used. When developing a treatment regimen, pediatric nephrologists take into account the stage of the pathological process, the child's age, their general condition, and other factors. The basis of therapy is a salt-free diet and the intake of medications.

The department's doctors have vast experience in treating children with polycystic kidney disease, a congenital disease accompanied by the formation of multiple cysts in the organ. The pathology causes structural changes in the kidney tissues, which leads to organ dysfunction. The first stage of the diagnostic process includes the collection of anamnesis, a clinical examination, and palpation of the abdominal organs. A doctor then prescribes a set of laboratory tests, kidney ultrasound scans, urography, and renal scintigraphy. In some cases, CT or MRI scans can also be performed. As for the treatment, there is no specific therapy that can cure polycystic kidney disease. The department's doctors carry out drug therapy to relieve symptoms and prevent any complications. If a child has an unfavorable course of the disease, resection or even total removal of the polycystic kidney may be required.

A special focus of the department's clinical practice is treating children with chronic kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease can develop due to congenital malformations and hereditary kidney diseases, recurrent urinary tract infections, glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and other pathologies. The main diagnostic tests for suspected chronic kidney disease are blood and urine tests, ultrasound scans, and a kidney biopsy. The therapeutic options at the disposal of the department's doctors include conservative treatment: a salt-free and low-protein diet, taking diuretics, hormone preparations, and antihypertensives. The full recovery of kidney function in patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease is often not possible, so the goal of therapy is to prevent disease progression and relieve symptoms. If conservative therapy does not give the desired result, the child is indicated for renal replacement therapy. The last-line therapy is kidney transplant surgery.

The department provides diagnostics and treatment of the following diseases in children:

• Recurrent urinary tract infections
• Voiding dysfunction
• Bedwetting (nocturnal enuresis)
• Glomerulonephritis
• Polycystic kidney disease
• Nephrotic syndrome
• Alport syndrome
• Tubulopathy
• Chronic kidney disease
• Other urinary system diseases

The department's range of medical services includes:

• Diagnostics
  • Laboratory tests: detailed blood and urine tests
  • 24-hour blood pressure monitoring
  • Kidney ultrasound scans
  • Kidney biopsy
  • Renal scintigraphy
  • Uroflowmetry
  • Electromyography of the pelvic floor muscles
• Treatment
  • Drug therapy
  • Diet therapy
• Other diagnostic and treatment methods