The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Renovascular Program serves as a national referral center for children with pediatric renovascular hypertension (pRVH).
In 2025, our program evaluated approximately 45 patients, reflecting the growing demand for specialized pRVH care and coordination. On a monthly basis, this multidisciplinary clinic hosts a pediatric nephrologist, a pediatric interventional radiologist, a pediatric vascular surgeon and pediatric vascular surgery advanced practice providers (APP).
Diagnosing pRVH is Critical
pRVH is narrowing of the blood vessels that supply one or both kidneys, leading to increased blood pressure in response to reduced blood flow. It is most commonly due to renal artery stenosis (RAS) — with or without mid-aortic syndrome (MAS) — which results from intrinsic abnormalities of the renal arteries or abdominal aorta. In children, the most frequent causes include fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD), neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), Williams syndrome and Takayasu’s arteritis. RAS and MAS account for 5% to 10% of pediatric hypertension cases.
FMD often involves the renal arteries and abdominal aorta but may affect the mesenteric, cervical, extremity and intracranial vessels. Suprarenal aortic narrowing, including supravalvar aortic stenosis (SVAS), thoracic coarctation and MAS, can coexist with renal artery disease, further impairing renal perfusion and leading to drug-resistant, renin-mediated hypertension.
If untreated, pRVH can cause growth failure and end-organ damage (EOD). Vascular narrowing may also impair kidney development and function with unilateral RAS potentially injuring the contralateral kidney through systemic hypertension and hyperfiltration injury.
The Renovascular Program at CHOP Can Help
The integrative care model within CHOP’s renovascular program is supported by dedicated surgical APPs and administrative staff ensuring seamless coordination and continuity of care for each patient.
Collaboration across multidisciplinary subspecialities is frequently required to determine optimal imaging and pRVH treatment strategies, with additional subspecialists such as genetics, neurology and neurosurgery consulted as required.
- Dayna Mazza, MD, is a pediatric nephrologist and head of the renovascular hypertension program at CHOP providing expertise — in consultation with Kevin E. Meyers, MBBCh — on medical management of complex hypertension and kidney development and function. She additionally serves as a medical liaison between pediatric nephrologists who refer patients to our multidisciplinary program for intervention evaluation.
- Anne Marie Cahill, MBBch, BAO, is a world-renowned interventional radiologist who provides specialized endovascular interventions for children with renal artery stenosis via percutaneous balloon angioplasty (PTA), as well as the addition of cutting balloon technology for resistant pRVH.
- Alexander S. Fairman, MD, is the Director of Pediatric Vascular Surgery at CHOP. In the U.S., Dr. Fairman is among the few pediatric vascular surgeons offering the full spectrum of surgical options for pRVH including aortic bypass, renal artery bypass and — in collaboration with transplant surgeon, Peter L. Abt, MD — kidney auto-transplantation.
- Additional clinical collaboration includes evaluation of cerebrovascular disease — commonly associated with pRVH — through neurologist Lauren A. Beslow, MD, MSCE, FAHA, and neurosurgeon Adam J. Kundishora, MD.
The integrative renovascular program at CHOP provides durable outcomes for complex vascular conditions through diagnostic evaluation, comprehensive assessment, monitoring and medical management, and interventional management, both endovascular and surgical.
How to Refer Patients to the Renovascular Program
Children suspected of pRVH may be referred to CHOP’s Division of Nephrology through internal providers, subspecialty clinics, outside institutions or local PCPs.
To refer a patient to the renovascular program, please use our online referral form.
In your message, please include patient information, demographics, referring physician, diagnosis or reason for referral, insurance information, and the requested timeframe for a visit.
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The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Renovascular Program serves as a national referral center for children with pediatric renovascular hypertension (pRVH).
In 2025, our program evaluated approximately 45 patients, reflecting the growing demand for specialized pRVH care and coordination. On a monthly basis, this multidisciplinary clinic hosts a pediatric nephrologist, a pediatric interventional radiologist, a pediatric vascular surgeon and pediatric vascular surgery advanced practice providers (APP).
Diagnosing pRVH is Critical
pRVH is narrowing of the blood vessels that supply one or both kidneys, leading to increased blood pressure in response to reduced blood flow. It is most commonly due to renal artery stenosis (RAS) — with or without mid-aortic syndrome (MAS) — which results from intrinsic abnormalities of the renal arteries or abdominal aorta. In children, the most frequent causes include fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD), neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), Williams syndrome and Takayasu’s arteritis. RAS and MAS account for 5% to 10% of pediatric hypertension cases.
FMD often involves the renal arteries and abdominal aorta but may affect the mesenteric, cervical, extremity and intracranial vessels. Suprarenal aortic narrowing, including supravalvar aortic stenosis (SVAS), thoracic coarctation and MAS, can coexist with renal artery disease, further impairing renal perfusion and leading to drug-resistant, renin-mediated hypertension.
If untreated, pRVH can cause growth failure and end-organ damage (EOD). Vascular narrowing may also impair kidney development and function with unilateral RAS potentially injuring the contralateral kidney through systemic hypertension and hyperfiltration injury.
The Renovascular Program at CHOP Can Help
The integrative care model within CHOP’s renovascular program is supported by dedicated surgical APPs and administrative staff ensuring seamless coordination and continuity of care for each patient.
Collaboration across multidisciplinary subspecialities is frequently required to determine optimal imaging and pRVH treatment strategies, with additional subspecialists such as genetics, neurology and neurosurgery consulted as required.
- Dayna Mazza, MD, is a pediatric nephrologist and head of the renovascular hypertension program at CHOP providing expertise — in consultation with Kevin E. Meyers, MBBCh — on medical management of complex hypertension and kidney development and function. She additionally serves as a medical liaison between pediatric nephrologists who refer patients to our multidisciplinary program for intervention evaluation.
- Anne Marie Cahill, MBBch, BAO, is a world-renowned interventional radiologist who provides specialized endovascular interventions for children with renal artery stenosis via percutaneous balloon angioplasty (PTA), as well as the addition of cutting balloon technology for resistant pRVH.
- Alexander S. Fairman, MD, is the Director of Pediatric Vascular Surgery at CHOP. In the U.S., Dr. Fairman is among the few pediatric vascular surgeons offering the full spectrum of surgical options for pRVH including aortic bypass, renal artery bypass and — in collaboration with transplant surgeon, Peter L. Abt, MD — kidney auto-transplantation.
- Additional clinical collaboration includes evaluation of cerebrovascular disease — commonly associated with pRVH — through neurologist Lauren A. Beslow, MD, MSCE, FAHA, and neurosurgeon Adam J. Kundishora, MD.
The integrative renovascular program at CHOP provides durable outcomes for complex vascular conditions through diagnostic evaluation, comprehensive assessment, monitoring and medical management, and interventional management, both endovascular and surgical.
How to Refer Patients to the Renovascular Program
Children suspected of pRVH may be referred to CHOP’s Division of Nephrology through internal providers, subspecialty clinics, outside institutions or local PCPs.
To refer a patient to the renovascular program, please use our online referral form.
In your message, please include patient information, demographics, referring physician, diagnosis or reason for referral, insurance information, and the requested timeframe for a visit.
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