At one time, newborns with diseased or absent kidneys had few options other than adult-sized dialysis machines. Today, aquapheresis therapy is a treatment option to provide renal support for neonates.
In 2020, St. Louis Children’s Hospital began using aquapheresis therapy to care for babies with congenital or acquired renal disorders, one of few centers in the country to offer this advanced treatment.
Dr. Eileen Ciccia, Washington University pediatric nephrologist at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, joins us to talk about renal disease in newborns, aquapheresis therapy, and its impact on NICU care.
At one time, newborns with diseased or absent kidneys had few options other than adult-sized dialysis machines. Today, aquapheresis therapy is a treatment option to provide renal support for neonates. 
Early reports of a multi-system inflammatory disorder in children with COVID-19 began in April 2020 in the United Kingdom. Since then, cases have appeared throughout the United States including our region. Known as “Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)”, the illness is characterized by prolonged fever, inflammation in the body and involvement of one or more organ systems.