Clinical characteristics of children with hemolytic uremic syndrome in Hangzhou, China.

BACKGROUND: Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a main cause of acute renal failure in children. This study aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of HUS.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed in 46 children with sporadic HUS.

RESULTS: Of the 46 HUS patients, 20 (43.5%) were diarrhea-related HUS, and 26 (56.5%) were atypical HUS. Anemia, edema, oliguria, hemoglobinuria and hypertension were the most common manifestations. Thrombocytopenia, hyponatremia, hypocalcemia, hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis, increased fibrinogen and hypocomplementemia were found in most patients. The age of onset (younger than 2 years or not, P=0.009), the duration of oliguria or anuria (more than one week or not, P=0.005), accompanied with extrarenal complications or not (P=0.005), dialysis and plasma exchange (P=0.04) were associated with the mortality rate.

CONCLUSIONS: The age of onset younger than 2 years, oliguria/anuria more than 1 week, and associated with extrarenal complications were predictive factors of poor prognosis.