Pediatric Kidney Disease & High Blood Pressure

University Children's Health kidney specialists will work to reduce your child's risk of developing high blood pressure with chronic kidney disease.

Kidney Disease & Hypertension in Kids

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is common in kids with chronic kidney disease. It’s called secondary high blood pressure when it occurs with an illness, like chronic kidney disease. 

Complications of the kidneys not working right can happen over time. As chronic kidney disease gets worse, your child’s blood pressure may increase.

Signs of High Blood Pressure

Secondary high blood pressure often doesn’t cause any symptoms. University Children’s Health specialists can detect and treat high blood pressure early. 

Checking and monitoring children for high blood pressure is important. Treatment for high blood pressure can:

• Prevent heart and vascular disease from developing later in life
• Prevent your child’s chronic kidney disease from getting worse
• Reduce high blood pressure

Pediatric Hypertension Program

Find individualized medical care and support services for kids and adolescents with high blood pressure due to chronic kidney disease or other causes such as obesity. Our multidisciplinary team includes specialty doctors, registered nurses, a dietitian, a pharmacist and a social worker.

Care & Treatment

Our pediatric hypertension program provides:

• Evaluation – Determines your risk for high blood pressure through a physical exam and by reviewing medical history
• Testing – Measures risk and diagnoses high blood pressure
• Nutrition counseling – Suggests lifestyle, diet and eating habit changes to improve your child’s overall health
• Blood pressure monitoring
  • 24-hour blood pressure monitoring – Measures blood pressure continuously using a portable monitor to find patterns and detect different types of hypertension
  • Home blood pressure monitoring – Monitors and measures blood pressure to help your child’s doctor determine how well treatments are working and predict the progression of chronic kidney disease
• Medication management – Uses medications to lower blood pressure and protect the kidneys