Toxin-mediated haemolytic uraemic syndrome without diarrhoea.
A 52-year-old previously healthy man was admitted to the hospital with haematuria, painful micturition and fever. Laboratory investigation showed the presence of a haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), characterized by haemolysis, renal insufficiency and mental disturbances. A urinary tract infection caused by a verotoxin-producing E. coli other than O157:H7 was diagnosed. Treatment of this infection resulted in his complete recovery from the illness. Both the search for a focus outside the gastrointestinal tract and the search for verotoxin genes by specific polymerase chain reaction can be crucial in a patient with HUS without preceding diarrhoea.
Kater
A P
AP
Departments of Internal Medicine, Haematology and Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. APhkater@yahoo.com
Westermann
A M
AM
de Groot
M R
MR
von dem Borne
A E
AE
Kuijper
E J
EJ
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D002939:Ciprofloxacin