The Nephrology Service at the Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital offers comprehensive care for patients with renal disease, from diagnosis through therapeutic management, including renal replacement therapy such as dialysis and transplantation. The service's activities are directed at patients with acute or chronic renal pathology, electrolyte disorders, arterial hypertension, primary and secondary glomerulopathies, as well as patients with advanced chronic kidney disease or who have undergone transplantation. As a referral centre for nephrology for the North of Barcelona and the Maresme, the service works to provide specialised, safe and evidence-based care, with the aim of improving patients' quality of life and slowing the progression of kidney disease.

The service has outpatient clinics, inpatient care, a day hospital and specific programmes for patients on dialysis (night-time haemodialysis, home haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis), as well as monitoring and preparation for renal and renal-pancreatic transplantation. The service works in a coordinated manner with other hospital departments and patner centres. One of the service's distinguishing features is its multidisciplinary clinics with specialities such as Cardiology, Endocrinology, Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Obstetrics, which allow for the provision of efficient and comprehensive care. It also has a specific programme for advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD-AKI) and an Interventional Nephrology unit for performing renal biopsies.

• In the field of research, the service collaborates with the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP) and participates in studies on specific kidney pathologies, chronic kidney disease, transplantation and cardiovascular risk. Clinical trials and innovation projects are also developed.
• In terms of teaching, the department trains UAB medical students and resident doctors, contributing to the training of future professionals with a comprehensive and up-to-date view of nephrology.

Its commitment to excellence in patient care, research and teaching consolidates its position as a leading centre in the field of renal diseases.

Service highlights

• Hospital Germans Trias reaches 2,000 kidney transplants

• A new clinical trial studies whether kidney transplantation would be possible in patients with mild COVID-19

• Award for the project to improve nephrological care for patients with chronic kidney disease

• Charity bike rides around Can Ruti boost research into kidney and pancreas transplantation

• A new biomarker helps to detect kidney fibrosis in transplant patients without invasive procedures

• Hospital Germans Trias and Badalona Town Council raise awareness of chronic kidney disease prevention on World Kidney Day.

The Nephrology Service at Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol stands out as a pioneer and regional benchmark in the comprehensive management of renal disease and renal replacement therapy, with a clear commitment to personalised care, innovation and multidisciplinarity.

When kidney diseases lead to a deterioration in renal function, they require a specific approach. That is why a structured programme with a proactive, patient-centred focus has been implemented. This programme anticipates therapeutic decisions and promotes patient empowerment through shared decision-making.

Receiving a diagnosis of advanced chronic kidney disease (ACKD) is not easy, and that is why we are here: to support you, guide you, welcome you and help you to better understand what you are going through. The Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease (ACKD) Unit is part of the Renal and Kidney Transplant Service, and has been created so that you and your family do not feel alone during this process. The aim is to support you every step of the way, answer your questions and help you make informed decisions about the available treatments. A document has been created that serves as a guide for you. We want it to be useful and clear. Here you will find information about how the kidneys work, how to look after your kidney health with a comprehensive approach that includes diet, medication and some practical tips for everyday life. We are by your side so that, together, we can walk this path with as much peace of mind and confidence as possible.

• ERCA Manual

Sometimes, when the kidneys fail, treatment is needed to perform the blood-filtering function that the kidneys carry out, known as renal replacement therapy. The Nephrology Service at Germans Trias offers, in this regard:

• Dialysis techniques including conventional haemodialysis, online haemodialysis and haemofiltration, home haemodialysis and nocturnal haemodialysis. The haemodialysis unit in our department has a quality system based on continuous improvement and has been certified to the ISO 9001 standard (currently 9001:2015) since 2009.
• Peritoneal dialysis
• Kidney and kidney-pancreas transplantation

Glomerular disease is a group of conditions that share the common feature of damaging the glomeruli, small structures responsible for the first step in filtering blood in the kidney to convert it into urine. Glomerular diseases can be primary, that is, originating and affecting the kidney, or secondary, caused by a more general disease of the body. In any case, early detection and the initiation of the most appropriate treatment are essential to prevent kidney damage. The Nephrology Department has a specialised unit for glomerular diseases, which offers early diagnosis and individualised monitoring and treatment. In addition, when necessary, ultrasound-guided kidney biopsies are performed to confirm the diagnosis and guide treatment in coordination with the Interventional Nephrology Unit and the Pathology Department. This unit is a regional centre of excellence for the specialised and multidisciplinary approach it offers.

The kidney does not act in isolation: it participates in multiple vital functions and has a close relationship with other organs and systems of the body. When the kidney is affected, alterations often occur in organs such as the heart, the endocrine system or even in the course of pregnancy. Likewise, diseases of other organs can be the cause or consequence of renal deterioration. In view of this reality, multidisciplinary clinics provide comprehensive, coordinated and efficient care, with various specialists working together to assess and treat the patient in all their complexity. In this regard, the nephrology service offers specific multidisciplinary clinics:

• Nephrology-Cardiology Clinic: for the follow-up of patients with kidney disease, high cardiovascular risk and heart failure.
• Nephrology-Endocrinology Clinic: aimed especially at patients with diabetes and diabetic kidney disease, one of the main causes of chronic kidney disease. The integrated approach improves metabolic control and delays disease progression.
• Nephrology-Rheumatology Clinic: Focused on systemic diseases such as vasculitis, lupus, Sjögren's syndrome, and other autoimmune conditions with renal involvement. This collaboration allows for a rapid and coordinated assessment of complex cases that often require immunosuppressive treatments.
• Nephrology-Gynaecology Clinic: A dedicated clinic for pre-conception counselling for women with chronic kidney disease and for women with high obstetric risk.

The Nephrology Service of the Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital maintains a strong commitment to research and innovation as strategic pillars to improve knowledge of renal diseases and the quality of patient care.

Currently, the service is part of the REMAR research group (Research in Renal-Affecting Diseases), recognised by the Generalitat de Catalunya as an emerging group. This group is integrated within the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), with whom it collaborates on various translational research projects.

At a national level, the service is an active member of the REDinREN (Renal Research Network) of the Carlos III Institute of Health, and collaborates with the Glomerular Diseases Group of the Spanish Society of Nephrology (SEN), the Glomerular Diseases Study Group of the Catalan Society of Nephrology, and the Catalan Society of Hypertension.

Current main lines of research include:

• Study of resistant hypertension and techniques such as renal denervation.
• Cardiovascular complications in chronic kidney disease and treatments to reduce their risk.The service actively participates in national and international multicentre Phase II and III clinical trials, and collaborates with hospital centres and universities across Europe.
• Study of microvesicles and their role in renal vascular inflammation and damage.
• Study and development of non-invasive tests for diagnosing the degree of renal fibrosis.
• Use of electronic devices for monitoring hydroelectrolytes such as potassium.
• Promotion of the clinical use of Bioartificial Kidneys.
• MicroRNA studies
• Studies on the use of bedside ultrasound for the diagnosis and management of congestion, both in patients with native kidneys and in those on renal replacement therapy (dialysis and transplantation).
• Implementation of impact microindentation in the clinical study of bone quality.

The service actively participates in multicentre Phase II and III clinical trials, both national and international, and collaborates with hospitals and universities across Europe.

This scientific and multidisciplinary approach makes the Nephrology Service an active and leading centre for the generation of knowledge in the field of nephrology.

Undergraduate Teaching

The department is actively involved in the theoretical and practical teaching of fourth and sixth-year Medical students from the Faculty of Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), at the Can Ruti Campus.

Docència postgraduada

We have two accredited annual positions for medical resident doctors (MIR). The specialist training lasts four years and is organised according to a Teaching Guide structured around competencies and rotations, which includes placements in specialised units of the service and external rotations.
Training is carried out under the supervision of the resident tutors, who provide individualised support, ensuring the achievement of training objectives and the professional well-being of the residents. The environment is very conducive to learning, with direct access to the various specialised areas: glomerular, transplantation, interventional techniques, hypertension, among others.
Residents actively participate in clinical sessions, working groups, research and hospital on-call duties. The employment rate after the residency is high, with a large proportion of residents joining local clinical teams or research groups.

►Consult the Training Guide.

Continuing education

The Nephrology Department organises weekly clinical sessions, monographic seminars and specific continuing education open to professionals from the department and other centres. We also run courses and workshops on current topics in nephrology.
In addition, trainees are encouraged to participate in conferences, external courses and research projects, with the active support of the department.