Toxin‐mediated haemolytic uraemic syndrome without diarrhoea

• Published in: Journal of internal medicine 2000-09, Vol.248 (3), p.263-265
• Main Authors: Kater, A. P., Westermann, A. M., De Groot, M. R., Von Dem Borne, A. E. G. KR, Kuijper, E. J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Infective Agents - therapeutic use; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the urinary system; Biological and medical sciences; Ciprofloxacin - therapeutic use; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - classification; Escherichia coli - isolation & purification; Escherichia coli Infections - diagnosis; haemolytic uraemic syndrome; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome - drug therapy; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome - microbiology; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Shiga‐like toxin; urinary tract infection; Urinary Tract Infections - drug therapy; Urinary Tract Infections - microbiology; verotoxin
• ISSN: 0954-6820; 1365-2796
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2796.2000.00729.x

. Kater AP, Westermann AM, de Groot MR, von dem Borne AEGKr (Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands). Toxin‐mediated haemolytic uraemic syndrome without diarrhoea (Case Report). J Intern Med 2000; 248: 263–265. 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.