Neurological complications of hemolytic-uremic syndrome

Of 78 children identified with hemolytic-uremic syndrome at the Children's Hospital, Boston, from 1976 to 1986, 16 patients (20.5%) had neurological manifestations during their hospitalization. The most common manifestations were significant alterations in consciousness (coma, stupor) in 12 patients, and either generalized or partial seizures in ten patients. Others included hemiplegia (4 patients), decerebrate posturing (3), cortical blindness (2), hallucinations (1), and dystonic posturing (1). Cranial computed tomographic scans were abnormal in eight of 11 patients scanned. The abnormalities included diffuse cerebral edema (4 patients), large vessel infarctions (3), diffuse multiple small infarcts (4), and multiple hemorrhages (1). Five patients died as a result of their central nervous system complications, and six had neurological sequelae at discharge. Five patients recovered and at discharge had no evidence of neurological dysfunction.