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Hemolytic-uremic syndrome - Symptom

Alternative Names

HUS

Symptoms:

HUS often begins with vomiting and diarrhea, which may be bloody. Within a week, the person may become weak and irritable. Persons with this condition may urinate less than normal. Urine output may almost stop.

Red blood cell destruction leads to symptoms of anemia.

Early symptoms:

Later symptoms:

Bruising
Decreased consciousness
Low urine output
No urine output
Pallor
Seizures -- rare
Skin rash that looks like fine red spots (petechiae)
Yellow skin (jaundice)

Signs and tests:

The health care provider will perform a physical exam. This may show:

Liver or spleen swelling
Nervous system changes

Laboratory tests will show signs of hemolytic anemia and acute renal failure. Laboratory tests may include:

Blood clotting tests (PT and PTT)
Comprehensive metabolic panel may show increased levels of BUN and creatinine
Complete blood count (CBC) may show increased white blood cell count and decreased red blood cell count
Platelet count is usually reduced
Urinalysis may reveal blood and protein in the urine
Urine protein test can be used to show the amount of protein in the urine

Other tests:

Kidney biopsy
Stool culture may be positive for a certain type of E. coli bacteria or other bacteria

Male urinary system

Reviewed last on: 3/28/2010
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

McMillan R. Hemorrhagic disorders: abnormalities of platelet and vascular function. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 179.

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