Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS)

Background

Anaemia, ↓platelets, anaemia:

Variable signs and symptoms of end-organ ischaemia (arteriolar thrombosis)
M = F
Infective HUS (also known as diarrhoea-associated HUS or D+HUS) is recognised as a sequel to infection primarily with two gastrointestinal pathogens: Verocytoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC¹) and Shigella dysenteriae
Verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC¹), or the pathogen responsible for the large outbreak of gastroenteritis in Germany in 2011 that produced 4000 cases of illness, of which more than 800 developed haemolytic uraemic Syndrome (HUS) and 50 died
VTEC¹ is highly transmissible; it can be spread from person‐to‐person, through food and water and from surfaces
The infectious dose is tiny
Ireland has one of the highest notification rate of VTEC (incidence rate of 12.16/100,000) in Europe with a high incidence of HUS (10%). 3% of HUS cases die. All of these HUS cases were admitted to hospital for extensive supportive measures
HUS is the commonest cause of acute renal failure in children.
Severity of the acute illness, especially the presence of CNS symptoms, is strongly associated with poorer long‐term outcome
Other rarer causes of HUS include pnemococcus, HIV, CMV, EBV and influenza. Very rarely hereditary or acquired acquired complement dysregulation

1/7 vomiting then diarrhoea (±bloody) then more lethargic/aneuric as diarrhoea resolves
Weakness, Lethargy, Pallor
↓ urinary output, oedema
Purpura, Epistaxis

DIC
Gastroenteritis
HELLP Syndrome
Henoch-Schonlein Purpura
Intussusception
Sepsis, Bacterial
Thrombocytopenic Purpura
TTP (TTP smilar but more severe encephalopathy, low levels of ADAMT13 and is rare in children)

ARF (↑↑ Urea & Creat)
Urine +ve for prot / RBC
D-Dimers normal
FBC = Schistocytes (red cell fragmentation), †Hb (↑Retics) , ↓platelets (normal PT / APTT)
Coombs test negative
↑LDH (normal PT / APTT)
Blood cultures negative (toxic causes disease, not bugs)
Stool cultures positive (MC&S)
CT brain if seizure

Aggressive ARF management (esp. ↑K⁺, ↑BP), initially with fluid resuscitation
Avoid nephrotoxic drugs (e.g. NSAIDs , gentamicin)
± correction U&E abnormality
Urgent nephrological opinion
Admit paediatrics (all will be transferred to neonatal ITU)
Seizures (up to 30%) made more likely if ↑BP so hypertensive Mx crucial (discuss with paed. renal team but nifedipine 0.5mg/kg reasonable starting point), ±dialysis
Notify public health

Antibiotics have no role in shiga toxin E Coli HUS and in fact may worsen the disease process if given during the bloody diarrhoeal phase of illness. Azithromycin appears to be safe however
Pneumococcal associated HUS needs treatment with a 3rd generation cephalosporin (Dx after leaving ED)
Some consider plasma exchange (no evidence but it is of proven treatment for TTP which is difficult to exclude early in the disease process

Mortality approx 3-4% from CNS injury (eg cerebral oedema/infarction), sepsis, GI necrosis, ↑K⁺
A further 5% have serious morbidity eg stroke or end stage renal disease
70% recover completely (the remainder varying renal dysfunction)