Renal function at hospital admission as a prognostic factor in adult hemolytic uremic syndrome. The Italian Registry of Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome.

Abstract

The clinical records of adult patients with a diagnosis of hemolytic uremic syndrome were retrospectively reviewed with the aim of evaluating the long-term outcome of renal function. The setting is the Italian Registry of Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome, with which 13 Nephrology Centers have participated. Clinical and laboratory data of 43 patients with hemolytic uremic syndrome were evaluated. The mean age at onset was 34.3 +/- 18.3 yr. Men and women were equally affected. No seasonal trend in presentation was observed. In 20 patients, hemolytic uremic syndrome was primitive, whereas in 23, it was associated with another disease (cancer, preeclampsia, malignant hypertension, vasculitides). Gastrointestinal symptoms were the most frequently observed prodromes. Thirty (70%) patients required dialysis during the acute phase of the disease. Six patients died during the acute phase of the disease, and one died later after discharge (overall mortality, 16%). After 1 yr of follow-up, 11 (26%) patients had recovered a normal renal function, 14 (33%) had hypertension and/or renal insufficiency, and 11 (26%) were on regular dialysis. When prognostic factors of survival and recovery of renal function were considered, it was found that older age was associated with higher mortality in the acute phase, whereas severe renal involvement at the onset of the disease (as expressed by elevated serum creatinine) was associated with a long-term unfavorable prognosis.