Hemolytic uremic syndrome caused by enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli

IBARRA C, GOLDSTEIN J, SILBERSTEIN C, ZOTTA E, BELARDO M, REPETTO HA

ARCHIVOS ARGENTINOS DE PEDIATRIA

Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría

Año: 2008 vol. 106 p. 435 - 442

0325-0075

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, plaquetopenia and kidney damage. It is the leading cause of acute renal failure in pediatric age and the second for chronic renal failure. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is the first etiologic agent of HUS being its main reservoir cattle and transmitted via contaminated food. At present, there is no specific treatment to reduce the progression of HUS. The study of the mechanisms by which STEC infects and Shiga toxin induces HUS can help to find new strategies to prevent this disease.