title: Southwestern Internal Medicine Conference: Shiga-like toxins in hemolytic-uremic syndrome and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
abstract: The majority of cases of hemolytic-uremic syndrome and a smaller proportion of cases of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura have recently been shown to result from a toxin produced by enteric bacteria, referred to as verotoxin, or Shiga-like toxin. The predominant toxin-producing bacterial strain in North America is E. coli O157:H7, which causes hemorrhagic colitis in humans after ingestion of contaminated meat. The toxin is believed to gain entry to the circulation from the bowel wall; it then binds to specific glycolipid receptors abundant on renal vascular endothelial cells. The toxin inactivates ribosomes inside the cells, thereby killing them and producing the clinical manifestations of hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Recognition of the etiology of hemolytic-uremic syndrome may lead to better prospects for prevention and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75234-8593.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hofmann
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004926:Escherichia coli; D005260:Female; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000382:microbiology*; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1; D022603:Shiga Toxins; D012760:Shigella
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1; D022603:Shiga Toxins