Sonography of the kidneys in hemolytic uremic syndrome

The sonographic appearance of kidneys in patients presenting with acute renal failure due to hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) was evaluated and compared with that in an age-matched control series. In nine patients with HUS, the renal cortex was typically hyperechogenic and the renal pyramids appeared sonolucent. The renal size was normal or enlarged compared with 35 normal controls. While not specific, the sonographic patterns described in this study support the diagnosis of HUS in the appropriate clinical setting.