HEMOLYTIC-UREMIC SYNDROME AND THYMIC DYSPLASIA IN AN INFANT

A 33-day-old male infant was admitted to the neonatal intensive care n ursery because of respiratory distress, grunting, cyanosis, and radiol ogical findings of bilateral bronchopneumonia. He responded well to in tensive therapy, but 11 days later developed hemolytic uremic syndrome , which was treated conservatively with prednisone and plasma transfus ions with good response. The hemolytic uremic syndrome resolved, but h e subsequently developed severe recurrent infections of unknown etiolo gy and died at the age of 78 days. Necropsy findings revealed necrotiz ing enterocolitis as well as dysplasia of the thymus and other lymphoi d tissues, compatible with the diagnosis of immunodeficiency disorder.