Background: Haemolytic uraemic syndrome is a rarely seen in adults often leading to critical illness.
This case highlights how difficult it can be to establish a diagnosis and treat when a patient presents
with bloody diarrhoea.
Case Presentation: A 17-year-old Iraqi man presented to the emergency department with abdominal
pain and bloody diarrhoea. He was initially treated as acute appendicitis, undergoing an
appendectomy but following a recurrence in his symptoms a colonoscopy was performed. A
diagnosis of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli leading to HUS was suspected following histology
obtained at colonoscopy and this was confirmed on antibody testing. Despite intravenous fluids and
supportive therapy the patient's symptoms and condition deteriorated. He developed seizures and
acute renal failure requiring intubation and plasma exchange in the intensive care setting. He
eventually required treatment with ecluzimab therapy; a monoclonal antibody and subsequently
made a full recovery.
Conclusions: Haemolytic uraemic syndrome is a triad of progressive renal failure, thrombocytopenia
and haemolytic anaemia which is a condition rarely seen in adults. It is usually associated with an E.
coli infection and supportive therapy remains the mainstay of treatment.