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.