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Hemolytic-uremic syndrome - Treatment

Alternative Names

HUS

Treatment:

Treatment may involve:

Dialysis
Medications such as corticosteroids
Transfusions of packed red blood cells and platelets

Some people may have the liquid portion of their blood (plasma) removed and replaced with fresh (donated) plasma, or the plasma is filtered to remove antibodies from the blood.

Expectations (prognosis):

This is a serious illness in both children and adults, and it can cause death. With proper treatment, more than half of patients will recover. The outcome is better in children than adults.

Complications:

Blood clotting problems
Hemolytic anemia
Kidney failure
Nervous system problems
Too few platelets (thrombocytopenia)
Uremia

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of HUS. Emergency symptoms include:

Blood in the stool
No urination
Reduced alertness (consciousness)

Call your health care provider if you have had an episode of HUS and your urine output decreases, or you develop other new symptoms.

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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