Hemolytic-uremic syndrome: an analysis of the natural history and prognostic features.
Sixty-seven children with hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) were admitted between 1974 and 1981. Of these, 52 (78%) were aged less than 3 years. All children had acute renal failure and 48 (72%) required peritoneal dialysis. The etiology in twenty cases varied from bacterial and viral infections (7 and 5 cases, respectively) to renal irradiation with chemotherapy (2) and preexisting glomerulopathy (1). 5 (7%) children died during the acute phase of the illness. Long-term follow-up (mean 3 years 3 months) of 56 cases showed that 37 children (60%) had so far experienced no functional sequelae and 8 (13%) only mild sequelae while 3 (5%) were on iterative hemodialysis, 3 had severe chronic renal failure and high blood pressure (HBP) and 5 (8%) had HBP and normal kidney function. While the recovery rate was approximately 60% in all age groups, the mortality rate and serious after-effects were twice as frequent (42%) in children over 3 years of age as in those less than 3. Renal histology (total of 37) showed 12 cases of cortical necrosis, 22 of glomerular thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) and 3 arterial TMA. Prognosis was poor for all cases of arterial TMA and 58% of those exhibiting cortical necrosis.
D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000150:complications; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D011379:Prognosis; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications