Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome in Asir Region

INTRODUCTION: Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome (HUS) is a worldwide disease and a common cause of acute renal failure in childhood. Recently the number of cases in our area seems to be increasing. AIM: The objective of this study was to look at epidemiology, clinical course and complications of hemolytic-uremic syndrome in the Southern region of Saudi Arabia. METHOD: The medical records of 24 patients with typical post diarrhea HUS who were seen in Asir Central Hospital (ACH) between January 1989 and December 1994 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 24 patients 15 were boys and 9 were girls with sex ratio 1.7:1. Ages ranged from 7 months to 11 years with a mean of 38 months. Clustering of cases were during spring and autumn time. Shigella dysenteriae was the most commonly isolated micro-organism, found in the stools of 5 patients. Complications occurred in 8 patients (33%) in the acute phase, 5 (21%) had generalized tonic-clonic seizures, while 2 (8%) had depressed level of consciousness. Three of the patients who had generalized seizures developed permanent cortical blindness. One patient developed chronic renal failure. One patient (4%) died in the acute phase after prolonged generalised seizure and coma. The mean age of the group with complications was 3335 months while it was 41:03 months in the uncomplicated group and mean platelets count was 46±40 × 10(9)/L and 58 ± 35 × 10(9)/L, respectively. CONCLUSION: Males seem to be more affected than females and Shigella was the most commonly isolated organism. Cortical blindness was relatively more common than in other studies and patients with complications were generally younger and had lower platelet count than those without complications.