A Case of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in a Child with Ischemic Colitis

ABSTRACT

Hemolytic uremic syndrome(HUS) is characterized by acute renal failure, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and thrombocytopenia and the most common pathogen is Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157H7. Ischemic colitis, which rarely occurs in children, is due to the reduced local blood flow to the intestine, tissue necrosis and secondary bacterial infection. We describe a patient who was admitted with abdominal pain, vomiting and hematochezia, and diagnosed as ischemic colitis by barium enema. This patient showed hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and progressive renal failure and was subsequently diagnosed as hemolytic uremic syndrome. After hemodialysis, the patient showed improvement of symptoms and resolution of renal failure and ischemic colitis.