Cholestatic jaundice in the haemolytic-uraemic syndrome: a case report

The haemolytic-uraemic syndrome is the term used to describe the symptom complex of acute oliguric renal failure, haemolysis, and thrombocytopaenia. The pathogenesis of the syndrome is unknown though several factors have been postulated as important. Gastrointestinal disease is now recognised as a regular feature of the syndrome but hepatic involvement is uncommon and limited to occasional jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly and rises in serum transaminase values. A patient is described in whom cholestatic jaundice occurred during the prodromal illness. Its presence is unexplained but might indicate infection with an unrecognised hepatotropic agent or else lack of enteral nutrition during the prodromal phase.