Hemolytic uremic syndrome:Aconditioncharacterized by the breakup of red blood cells (hemolysis) and kidney failure. There is clumping ofplatelets(thebloodcells responsible for clotting) within thekidney's small blood vessels with resultantischemia(reduced blood flow) leading to the kidney failure. The partial blockage of the blood vessels also leads to the destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis). Platelets are also decreased which can cause bleeding problems.
There are many causes for thehemolyticuremicsyndrome(HUS) including shigellabacteria, drugs, tumors, pregnancy, andsystemic lupus erythematosus. One of the most prominent causes today of HUS is astrainof the E. coli bacteria calledE. coli O157:H7.
"Hemolytic" refers to the breakup of red blood cells. This leads to anemia and a shortage of platelets (thrombocytopenia) which causesabnormalbleeding. "Uremic" refers to theacute kidney failure.中枢神经系统stemproblems with seizures and coma can also occur.
溶血性尿毒综合征是最常见的原因acutekidney failureininfants and young children. Cases typically begin with severeabdominalcramps and diarrhea which may become bloody by the second or third day. Nausea and vomiting is present in approximately half of the patients. Most patients recover in 7-10 days, but some (6%) go on to have HUS. This is most likely to happen in children and the elderly. Some patients developneurologicalproblems such asseizures. Many patients require dialysis and blood transfusions. Themortality rateis 3 to 5%.
The E. coli usually areacquiredfrom eating raw or undercooked ground beef (hamburger) or from drinking raw milk or contaminatedwater. Less commonly, E coli O157:H7 is transmitted from one person to another.
