Markers of endothelial cell activation and injury in childhood haemolytic uraemic syndrome

Abstract

Diarrhoea-associated haemolytic uraemic syndrome (D+ HUS) is usually caused by verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli. Histology shows endothelial swelling with localised thrombus. Activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis also occurs. These facts, combined with the knowledge that recovery usually follows within weeks, led us to hypothesise that verotoxin causes localised endothelial cell activation but not injury. Markers of endothelial cell activation and injury were measured serially in 30 children with acute D+ HUS, healthy children, and children receiving chronic dialysis. Interpretation of markers was complicated by the renal dysfunction characteristic of D+ HUS. Nevertheless there was no evidence for endothelial cell injury, as soluble tissue factor levels were not increased and soluble thrombomodulin levels were lower than dialysed controls (P<0.001). In the acute phase, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule levels were raised above normal (P<0.001), but were lower than dialysed controls (P<0.001), and soluble E-selectin levels were not significantly increased compared with normal controls (P=0.2). Hence, there was no evidence for endothelial cell damage or endothelial cell activation by the time children reached hospital; but this study did not exclude the possibility that endothelial cell activation occurred prior to hospital admission.