Nephrology and Hypertension in Minnesota

Glomerular Disease / Renal Parenchymal Clinic

"Our primary goal is to provide high-quality care for patients with glomerular diseases and identify new or emerging diagnostic and treatment strategies and incorporate them into our clinical practice."

Fernando C. Fervenza, M.D., PhD.

The Glomerular/Renal Parenchymal Disease Clinic in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at Mayo Clinic Rochester provides comprehensive care for patients suffering from disorders that affect the glomeruli (glomerulonephritis and glomerular diseases). Nephrologists, hypertension specialists and pathologists work together in the diagnosis and treatment of these patients.

Each patient is evaluated using state-of-the-art diagnostic testing techniques in renal imaging and function. Physicians within the Glomerular/Renal Parenchymal Disease Clinic work closely with local physicians in coordinating treatment and follow-up care.

Clinical studies are also an important aspect of the Glomerular/Renal Parenchymal Disease Clinic. Through its link to the Mayo Nephrology Collaborative Group, the clinic offers patients the opportunity to participate in clinical trials when appropriate.

Services offered by the Glomerular/Renal Parenchymal Disease Clinic

Comprehensive medical evaluation and treatment including:

• Multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment of glomerular diseases
• Evaluation of patients experiencing common conditions such as protein in the urine (proteinuria), blood in the urine (hematuria), or urinary casts
• State-of-the-art renal imaging such as iothalamate clearance and renal function studies not offered at most centers
• Renal biopsy testing and evaluation of outside kidney biopsy material
• Coordinated care with local physicians including prompt communication about treatment administration and follow-up testing
• Convenient follow-up care such as mail-in urine and laboratory testing and ambulatory (portable) blood pressure monitoring devices

Assessment and treatment for glomerular diseases:

• Cryoglobulinemias
• Diabetic nephropathy
• Dysproteinemias (Renal amyloid, Light chain deposition disease myeloma kidney)
• Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
• IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease or IgA glomerulonephritis)
• Membranous nephropathy
• Minimal change nephropathy
• Systemic lupus (lupus nephritis)
• Systemic vasculitis Wegener's granulomatosis, microscopic polyangitis, Goodpasture's syndrome)
• Herediitary nephritis
• Thin basement membrane disease/Alport's disease

Other options for patients with glomerular disease:

• Dialysis treatment including the option for home dialysis treatment when appropriate
• Preemptive kidney transplantation evaluation including pre-transplant consultation, living donor evaluation, kidney transplantation and post-transplantation care through the Mayo Clinic Transplant Center.

Research

The Glomerular/Renal Parenchymal Disease Clinic participates in a variety of innovative research activities. Current research initiatives include:

• Clinical research in glomerular disease
• Clinical epidemiology of glomerular diseases
• Genetics of glomerular disease
• Renal function test development and validation
• Application of emerging molecular diagnostic markers as applied to kidney biopsy interpretation and clinical management

Learn more about Mayo Clinic nephrologists and hypertension specialists research publications in PubMed.

Appointments

For appointments, contact Mayo Clinic on Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 507-284-9991.

Patients being seen within the Glomerular/Renal Parenchymal Disease Clinic are typically seen by multiple specialists in glomerular diseases. The specific specialists involved and the type of evaluation being done will depend upon the problem that the patient is experiencing. Patients usually are seen primarily by a nephrologist who then coordinates patient care and referrals to other members of the Glomerular/Renal Parenchymal Disease Clinic.

Clinic personnel work with patients to schedule appointments that will meet their medical and travel needs. Appointments can usually be scheduled within two weeks of the initial request.

Physician Staff

Fernando Cosio, M.D.
John J. Dillon, M.D.
Stephen B. Erickson, M.D.
Fernando Fervenza, M.D., Ph.D.
Vesna Garovic, M.D.
Eddie L. Greene, M.D.
Eric N. Haugen, M.D.
Marie C. Hogan, M.D., Ph.D.
Nelson Leung, M.D.
James T. McCarthy, M.D.

Publications

For a listing of recent publications, refer to PubMed, a service provided by the National Library of Medicine.