Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome Flashcards
What is haemolytic uraemic syndrome?
What causes it?
Occurs due to thrombosis occuring in small blood vessels around the body
Shiga toxin usually triggers the trombosis to occur in the blood vessels:
Toxin produced by:
-e.coli 0157
-shigella
What is the classic triad of presentations and why does HUS cause this?
HUS= HAT
Haemolytic anaemia
-blood clots in the vessels leads to RBC passing through being destroyed
AKI
-clots and damaged RBC compromised blood flow to kidneys causing renal hypoperfusion-> pre-renal AKI
Thrombocytopenia
-formation of blood clots leads to consumption of platelets
How might someone with HUS typically present?
Recent hx of gastroenteritis + bloody diarrhoea due to ecoli
Will exhibit signs of HUS 5 days after infection:
- reduce urine output
- haematuria/dark urine
- abdominal pain
- lethargy + irritabilty
- confusion -> uraemia
- hypertension -> renal failure
- bruising
- pallor-> anaemia
How is HUS managed?
Supportive treatment due to conditions bein self-limiting despite being medical emergency:
Antihypertensives
Blood transfusions
Dialysis
