Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

Illustration of the anatomy of the kidney
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What is hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)?

Hemolytic uremic syndrome is a rare condition that mostly affects children under the age of 10. It is often characterized by:

  • damage to the lining of blood vessel walls
  • destruction of red blood cells
  • kidney failure

What causes HUS?

Most cases of HUS occur after an infection in the digestive tract caused by the E. coli bacterium. Diarrhea and upper respiratory infections are the most common precipitating factors in contracting HUS. HUS is less common in adults, but may occur more often in pregnant women, women who have been taking oral contraceptives, are postpartum or having obstetric complications. E. coli may be found in contaminated food, such as dairy products and meat.

How might HUS progress?

The first stage of HUS frequently lasts from 1 to 15 days and may include gastrointestinal symptoms such as:

  • abdominal pain
  • bloody diarrhea
  • vomiting

Severe problems in the bowel and colon may develop in some cases. In these cases, even if the gastroenteritis has stopped, a child may still exhibit the following symptoms:

  • irritability
  • fatigue
  • small, unexplained bruises or small clot-sized hemorrhages visible in the mucosal lining of the mouth
  • paleness

The child may produce little urine because damaged red blood cells and other factors may clog the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys or cause lesions in the kidneys, making the kidneys work harder to remove wastes and extra fluid from the blood.

The body's inability to rid itself of excess fluid and waste may, in turn, cause:

  • high blood pressure
  • swelling of the hands and feet
  • generalized fluid accumulation (edema)

The symptoms of HUS may resemble other conditions or medical problems. Consult a physician for diagnosis.

What does treatment for HUS commonly involve?

There is no known treatment that can stop the progress of the syndrome once it has started.

A treatment regimen will be established by your physician based on your individual condition. Most treatments are aimed at easing the immediate symptoms and signs of this disease and at preventing further complications. This may include any/all of the following:

  • treatment of high blood pressure
  • maintaining specific levels of fluids and salts
  • blood transfusions
  • kidney dialysis
  • medication

Statistics related to hemolytic uremic syndrome:

  • The mortality rate of HUS is 5 percent to 15 percent.
  • Adults with HUS have a poorer outcome from the disease than children.
  • With supportive care, approximately 85 percent of patients recover and achieve normal renal function.
  • The most vulnerable and severely stricken of children with HUS, between 5 percent and 10 percent, can die during the first acute stage of the disease.

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