title: Postpartum hemolytic uremic syndrome following abruptio placenta: report of a case.
abstract: Postpartum hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is an unusual complication that presents with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure after delivery. In this report, we describe a 32-year-old patient (gravida 3, para 1, artificial abortion 1) who developed postpartum HUS following abruptio placenta. After cesarean delivery due to abruptio placenta, the patient developed acute renal failure, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and thrombocytopenia followed by hypertension. Plasma exchange led to recovery from thrombocytopenia and improvement in renal function. This case highlights the importance of observation of peripheral blood smears in patients with abruptio placenta who develop thrombocytopenia after delivery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, En Chu Kong Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Vin-Cent
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Shuei-Liong
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chien-Chen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Hwei-Fang
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Tien
mesh_terms: D000037:Abruptio Placentae / Q000150:complications*; D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy