EXTRARENAL INVOLVEMENT IN DIARRHEA-ASSOCIATED HEMOLYTIC-UREMIC SYNDROME

A review of extrarenal involvement in diarrhoea-associated haemolytic- uraemic syndrome (HUS) is based on 64 of our autopsied patients and an update of the literature. Large bowel pathology was the commonest (29 cases), followed by the central nervous system (21 cases), the heart (19 cases) and the pancreas (19 cases). The severity of systemic invol vement was associated with the magnitude of renal compromise and the p rognosis of the acute phase. Diarrhoea-associated HUS is described as a multiorgan entity, due to extensive microvascular damage and thrombo sis. At present mortality during the acute phase is not confined to re nal failure; systemic involvement can also lead to death.