Toxin-mediated haemolytic uraemic syndrome without diarrhoea.

Abstract

A 52-year-old previously healthy man was admitted to the hospital with haematuria, painful micturition and fever. Laboratory investigation showed the presence of a haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), characterized by haemolysis, renal insufficiency and mental disturbances. A urinary tract infection caused by a verotoxin-producing E. coli other than O157:H7 was diagnosed. Treatment of this infection resulted in his complete recovery from the illness. Both the search for a focus outside the gastrointestinal tract and the search for verotoxin genes by specific polymerase chain reaction can be crucial in a patient with HUS without preceding diarrhoea.

• Authors: A P Kater, A M Westermann, M R de Groot, A E von dem Borne, E J Kuijper
• Journal: Journal of internal medicine (J Intern Med) Vol. 248 Issue 3 Pg. 263-5 (Sep 2000) ISSN: 0954-6820 [Print] England
• PMID: 10971794 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Anti-Infective Agents
• Ciprofloxacin

Topics

• Anti-Infective Agents (therapeutic use)
• Ciprofloxacin (therapeutic use)
• Escherichia coli (classification, isolation & purification)
• Escherichia coli Infections (diagnosis)
• Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome (drug therapy, microbiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Urinary Tract Infections (drug therapy, microbiology)