[Hemolytic-uremic syndrome]

Abstract

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) occurs most commonly in sporadic or epidemic form in otherwise healthy infants or children. The most common agent is Escherichia coli-producing verotoxin (VTEC) in classical HUS. In this paper, the cause or pathogenesis of HUS associated with verotoxin, Shigellosis, streptococcus pneumoniae was described referring to current literature. In addition, this paper also refers to the relationship of HUS with bone marrow transplantation, cancer and renal transplantation. The conclusions were that two syndromes of HUS and TTP may occupy the opposite ends of a continuum with overlap in some cases; the gestalt of a typical case of HUS is quite different from that of a typical case of TTP. Precise definition must await the development of further information concerning the cause and mechanism that produce the subsets or variant forms of HUS.