Hemolytic uremic syndrome following chicken pox

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Virology
• Pathology

Background:

• Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a serious condition often associated with infections.
• Chickenpox (varicella-zoster virus infection) is a common viral illness.

Observation:

• A patient presented with complications of chickenpox, leading to hemolytic uremic syndrome.
• Autopsy revealed significant glomerular pathology, including capillary wall thickening and basement membrane wrinkling.

Findings:

• The glomeruli exhibited diffuse capillary wall thickening and extensive wrinkling of the basement membrane.
• Subendothelial deposition of granular material was observed in the glomeruli.

Implications:

• This case suggests a potential, previously unreported association between chickenpox and the development of hemolytic uremic syndrome.
• Further research may be warranted to explore the etiological mechanisms linking varicella-zoster virus infection to HUS.