title: Impact of platelet transfusions in children with post-diarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Platelet transfusions should be avoided in children with post-diarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome (D + HUS) because they might increase microthrombi formation, thereby aggravating the disease. As this possibility has not yet been explored, we investigated whether platelet transfusion in patients with D + HUS would lead to a worse disease course compared to that in patients who did not receive platelet transfusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a case-control study in which data from D + HUS children who received platelet transfusions (cases, n  =  23) and those who did not (controls, n  =  54) were retrospectively reviewed and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both patient groups were similar in age (p = 0.3), gender (p  =  0.53), weight (p  =  0.86), height (p  =  0.45), prior use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (p  =  0.59) or antibiotics (p  =  0.45) and presence of dehydration at admission (p  =  0.79). The two groups also did not differ in initial leukocyte count (p  =  0.98), hematocrit (p  =  0.44) and sodium (p  =  0.11) and alanine aminotransferase levels (p  =  0.11). During hospitalization, dialysis duration (p  =  0.08), number of erythrocyte transfusions (p  =  0.2), serum creatinine peak (p  =  0.22), presence of severe bowel (p  =  0.43) or neurologic (p  =  0.97) injury, arterial hypertension (p  =  0.71), need for intensive care (p  =  0.33) and death (p  =  1.00) were also comparable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that platelet transfusion does not aggravate the course of the disease. Conversely, no hemorrhagic complications were observed in the group of patients who did not receive a platelet transfusion. Until these observations are confirmed by further studies, the benefits and risk of platelet transfusion should be thoughtfully balanced on an individual case basis.
authors: Nephrology Unit, Hospital General de Niños Pedro de Elizalde, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina. abalestracci@yahoo.com.ar
authors: Alejandro
authors: A
authors: Balestracci
authors: Sandra Mariel
authors: SM
authors: Martin
authors: Ismael
authors: I
authors: Toledo
authors: Caupolican
authors: C
authors: Alvarado
authors: Raquel Eva
authors: RE
authors: Wainsztein
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D017713:Platelet Transfusion / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
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