title: Failure of fresh frozen plasma infusions to alter the course of hemolytic uremic syndrome.
abstract: The hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is characterized by thrombocytopenia, anemia, and acute renal failure. Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) infusions have been claimed to shorten the course of HUS. However, no long-term follow-up is available. Hence, we analyzed the effects of FFP infusions on acute resolution and long-term sequelae of HUS in 12 children (5 boys, 7 girls, mean age 4.5 years, range 7 months to 9 years) and compared to a historical control group of 31 children (13 boys, 18 girls, mean age 3 years, range 8 months to 9 years). The patient population, severity of HUS, and other modes of therapy except FFP were similar in the two groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the acute resolution of HUS as evaluated by recovery of anemia, thrombocytopenia, and return of renal functions. Long-term sequelae of HUS such as hypertension, end-stage renal disease, and CNS residual abnormalities were also similar in two groups. One child died in the FFP group and 2 children died in the control group. We feel that FFP infusions have no significant effect on the course of HUS and its use should be questioned.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Wisconsin, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Sheth
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Leichter
mesh_terms: D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010949:Plasma