Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (cont.)
What causes hemolytic uremic syndrome?
While the cause of HUS has not been established with certainty, researchers
believe that an abnormal inflammation reaction is stimulated in the blood stream
causing platelets (the parts of the blood that form clots) to sludge in small
blood vessels and form blood clots where they are not supposed to. This uses up
the platelets and causes a shortage of them in the rest of the body. This
abnormal reaction may be caused by a yet unidentified chemical that is produced
in blood plasma (the fluid or non-cellular part of the bloodstream).
The triggering events for HUS are varied and include:
- Enterohemorrhagic E. Coli is a type of bacteria that causes bloody
diarrhea. E. coli is a very common type of bacteria in the body, and it is only
the OH157:H7 type that causes the problem. It can be found in undercooked meat
and other foods; and is one of the causes of food recalls and restaurant-related
food poisoning outbreaks. This accounts for almost 90% of HUS in children.
- Pregnancy and the early postpartum (after delivery) time period and the use
of birth control pills are the more common associations with HUS
- Pneumonia caused by the
Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria is another
possible precipitating factor. HUS is an unusual complication of this common
infection. Most often, this pneumonia is treated with antibiotics as an
outpatient.
- Medications may be also associated with HUS, including some chemotherapy
and immunosuppression drugs, birth control pills,
ticlopidine (Ticlid) and
quinine [(Quinerva,
Quinite) an anti-platelet drug].
- AIDS may be associated with HUS.
Furthermore, there is an inherited type of HUS due to a gene mutation that
affects the blood clotting mechanism.
Next: What are the signs and symptoms of hemolytic uremic syndrome? »
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