[Hemolytic-uremic syndrome in pneumococcal meningitis and infection. Importance of T-transformation]

A 4 month old girl developed a severe hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) following pneumococcal sepsis and meningitis. As a result of the hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia with associated gastrointestinal bleeding several red blood cell and thrombocyte transfusions became necessary. No plasma was transfused to the patient and all cellular blood components to be transfused were washed thoroughly in order to avoid the administration of eventually dangerous donor anti-T antibodies. Continuous peritoneal dialysis was performed for 23 days until sufficient spontaneous urine production was resumed. From the start of increased hemolysis T-transformation of the patient's red blood cells could be shown; bacterial neuraminidase was proven in the patient's serum, which could be neutralized in vitro by a commercial intravenous IgG preparation. The direct Coombs-Test was negative and no significant amounts of anti-T antibodies were detectable in the patient's serum at any stage of the disease. Our observation suggest that the T-transformation itself has caused the increased hemolysis and not an antigen-antibody (T-anti-T) reaction. In cases of HUS und proven T-transformation, intravenous IgG preparations should be tried therapeutically to inhibit the bacterial neuraminidase.