This Division of Nephrology was established to treat and prevent renal disease as one of cardiovascular diseases. Mainly, we are now dealing with three projects: to elucidate the role of kidneys in pathogenesis of hypertension, to find strategy for arresting progression of renal failures, and to treat cardiovascular complications in patients with renal failure or on hemodialysis. The division is divided into three sections:

(1) one for hemodialysis therapy, (2) for care and management of hospitalized patients with renal diseases, and (3) for interdisciplinary study on renal diseases, hypertension and diabetes. These three sections are engaged in both clinical and research works in cooperation with each other.

Followings are routine works of each section.

(1) Hemodialysis therapy: The number of patients, who are hospitalized to other divisions of our hospital to take specific examination and treatment of cardiovascular complications and who also requires hemodialysis therapy, is rapidly increasing.

Therefore, hemodialysis unit functions as the center of blood purification therapy throughout the hospital. There are some patients who are obliged to wait for admittance to hospital, since hemodialysis unit are always filled up. At present, we are requesting to expand the number of patient stations in hemodialysis unit to 10 from present 6 as well as those of nurses and clinical biomedical engineers. When we are consulted by other divisions because of renal failure, but their patients can hardly move to the hemodialysis unit, we go to other divisions to treat with CVVH and other blood purification therapy.

(2) Treatment of renal diseases: Besides renal biopsy examination and specific treatment of glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndrome and chronic rejection after renal transplantation, we are intending to focus on renal diseases as cardiovascular system disease; for example, renovascular hypertension, nephrosclerosis and ischemic nephropathy.

(3) Interdisciplinary study of renal diseases, hypertension and diabetes: As the number of patients suffered from these diseases is huge, this section is very significant both from clinical and research points of view. It has taken over 10 years since Nephritis Counseling and Renal Failure Counseling have been held regularly in cooperation with doctors, nurses, dietitians and pharmacologists. We give patients opportunities to learn about measures to prevent progression of renal failure and smooth shift to hemodialysis therapy.

As for our research activities, we have reported significant data of which our hospital can be proud. Our works are unique in originality and are evaluated highly in the world. Followings are recent studies of each section: (1) We have quantified hemodialysis therapy from all angles and analyzed prognostic factors leading to cardiovascular complications. (2),(3) We developed a clinical method to estimate quantitatively intrarenal hemodynamics such as glomerular capillary pressure in humans, and proposed a new concept to classify every hypertension based on renal mechanisms. In addition, we found linkage among salt sensitivity of blood pressure, glomerular hypertension and nocturnal hypertension called"non-dipper".

Our motto is"To Arrest Cardiovascular Diseases, It Is Essential to Understand Nephrology", keeping in mind that all cases of hypertension are due to impairments in fine renal functions.

Outpatient clinical services

General service:

Thursday (every week) and Friday (every other week)

Specialized service:

Monday, Tuesday and Friday (every week)