[Hemolytic-uremic syndrome with renal thrombotic microangiopathy]

Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) is characterized by intravascular hemolytic anemia with fragmented erythrocytes and thrombocytopenia, acute renal failure, and glomerular/arteriolar fibrin deposition. Most childhood HUS are postdiarrheal (enterocolitic) while adult HUS have various causes, such as shigellosis, pregnancy, malignant hypertension, AIDS, antineoplastic chemotherapy and organ transplantation. Disorders of endothelial hemostatic functions, induced in some cases by bacterial toxins, may have a role in the onset of microthromboses. HUS treatments are both supportive, including antihypertensive drugs and dialysis, and antithrombotic, including plasma infusions or plasma exchanges and antiplatelet agents.