pathology
Last reviewed 08/2021
Most cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome are associated with diarrhoea and occur in children. These cases, in general, have a natural history where there is complete recovery and there is usually no renal biopsy taken.
Diarrhoea-associated HUS characterised by:
- glomerular capillary thrombosis
- some arteriolar thrombosis and necrosis
Idiopathic HUS:
- generally occurs in adults
- show a preglomerular pathology with intimal proliferation and luminal stenosis affecting arterioles and small arteries
- in 10% of adult cases there are no pathological changes seen in the glomeruli or vessels and the only lesion seen is acute tubular necrosis (1)
Reference:
- (1) Neild GH (1993). Haemolytic uraemic syndrome in practice. Lancet, 343, 398-402.