Renal Pathology
The Renal Pathology service at Cincinnati Children’s offers expert diagnostic and consultative services for the evaluation of native and transplant kidney biopsies in pediatric and adult patients. The Renal Pathology Laboratory provides exceptional, personalized customer service with rapid turnaround times.
Our team integrates light microscopy, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy to provide comprehensive and precise evaluations of renal biopsy specimens. Each case is reviewed in close collaboration with the submitting nephrology team to ensure robust clinicopathologic correlation and diagnostic relevance. These discussions are central to our approach, allowing us to deliver clinically actionable insights that directly inform patient management and treatment decisions.
We routinely evaluate a broad spectrum of renal diseases, including glomerulonephritis, tubulointerstitial disorders, vascular pathologies, and transplant-related changes. With fellowship-trained experts in renal pathology on our team, we offer diagnostic services for patients across the lifespan—from infancy through adulthood. Our collaborative model and deep technical expertise ensure that each patient receives state-of-the-art, individualized care.
Collaborative Centers
Our pathologists collaborate closely with the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, which is consistently ranked among the top pediatric nephrology programs in the U.S. Through this collaboration, we contribute to multidisciplinary care and research initiatives in glomerular, tubulointerstitial, and transplant-related kidney diseases. Our center participates in clinical trials and is a clinical site for the CureGN initiative, for which one of our pathologists is also an active participant.
Consultative Service
We provide consultative reviews of native and transplant kidney biopsies from both internal and external institutions and are able to provide primary review of kidney biopsies (submission kits available upon request). Each specimen undergoes a standardized and comprehensive evaluation that includes light microscopy, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy.
Our pathologists integrate detailed clinical information with histologic findings to deliver accurate, specific diagnoses and tailored reports that inform therapeutic decisions, prognosis, and follow-up care. Special emphasis is placed on complex and high-impact conditions such as glomerulonephritis, hereditary conditions, diffuse podocytopathies, and transplant-related pathologies. Ancillary studies are incorporated seamlessly into our diagnostic workflow when clinically appropriate.
Areas of Expertise
- Glomerulonephritis
- Diffuse podocytopathies including minimal change disease and FSGS
- Lupus nephritis and other systemic autoimmune diseases
- IgA nephropathy/Henoch-Schönlein purpura
- C3-related glomerulonephritis
- Congenital and hereditary nephropathies
- Thrombotic microangiopathies
- Tubulointerstitial diseases
- Membranous glomerulonephritis
- Renal transplant pathology and rejection surveillance
For more information about our services, contact us.
