Hemolytic uremic syndrome in small-bowel transplant recipients: the first two case reports. 1999

A Humar, and J Jessurun, and H L Sharp, and R W Gruessner
Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota, Delaware St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. humar001@tc.umn.edu

Post-transplant hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is an uncommon but well-described complication in solid organ transplant recipients. Believed to be secondary to immunosuppressive therapy, it has been reported after kidney, liver, pancreas, heart, and lung transplants. In all reported cases, the primary organ affected was the kidney (transplant or native). But until now, no cases after small-bowel transplants and no cases in which the kidney was not the primary organ affected have been reported. We report two cases of HUS in small-bowel transplant recipients. In our first case, clinical presentation was with renal failure; biopsy of the native kidney demonstrated the typical histological changes seen with HUS, namely occlusion of the microcirculation by thrombi and platelet aggregation. Immunosuppression was changed from tacrolimus to cyclosporin, but with no improvement in renal function. In our second case, the transplanted bowel was the primary organ affected. This recipient presented with ulcers in the bowel mucosa, which were believed to be ischemic in origin, secondary to occlusive vascular lesions affecting the small vessels in the transplanted bowel. Her tacrolimus dose was decreased with resolution of ulcers and no evidence of rejection. These two cases represent the first reports of HUS after small-bowel transplants; in addition, our second case represents the first report of an extrarenal graft as the primary organ affected. When caring for small-bowel transplant recipients, physicians must be alert to the possibility of HUS and its various presentations.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007421 Intestine, Small The portion of the GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT between the PYLORUS of the STOMACH and the ILEOCECAL VALVE of the LARGE INTESTINE. It is divisible into three portions: the DUODENUM, the JEJUNUM, and the ILEUM. Small Intestine,Intestines, Small,Small Intestines
D008297 Male Males
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D005260 Female Females
D006463 Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome A syndrome that is associated with microvascular diseases of the KIDNEY, such as RENAL CORTICAL NECROSIS. It is characterized by hemolytic anemia (ANEMIA, HEMOLYTIC); THROMBOCYTOPENIA; and ACUTE RENAL FAILURE. Gasser's Syndrome,Gasser Syndrome,Gassers Syndrome,Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome,Syndrome, Hemolytic-Uremic
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

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