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E. coli Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome: Long-term Effects

By Food Safety Attorney Fred Pritzker

We represent people injured by E. coli O157:H7-induced Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) resulting from contaminated food, water, and petting zoos.

One of the most urgent questions asked by parents and survivors concerns the long-term prognosis (a medical opinion as to the likely course and outcome of a disease) – what’s going to happen in the future? If my child or loved one survives this devastating illness, will they have kidney problems, hypertension or other serious medical issues at some point in their lives?

A number of medical journal articles have addressed the long-term prognosis associated with HUS. The citations to a number of these articles are reprinted below. Caution should be exercised in reading these articles since they are very technical and may not apply to the particular facts and findings associated with your case.

According to a leading review article in 2003, approximately 25% of HUS survivors demonstrate long-term kidney problems following and as a result of HUS. Those problems may take years to develop. Another article from 2005 states that about 30% to 50% of children who survive the acute phase of HUS are later found to have signs of kidney damage and/or hypertension. There is no single test or evaluation to determine whether an HUS survivor will develop future problems.

Factors Affecting Future E. coli HUS Health Problems:

The severity of the initial illness
Whether there were central nervous symptoms (reduced consciousness, coma, stroke or seizures)
Length of time during which urine output was absent or significantly decreased
Length of time during which dialysis was required (especially if over four weeks)
Length of time during which hospitalization was required
Whether pancreatic damage (hyperglycemia) was observed during the acute phase of HUS (if so, years later a child may develop insulin dependent diabetes)
Continued presence of proteinuria, a condition characterized by the presence of greater-than-normal amounts of protein in the urine
Ongoing elevated blood pressure (hypertension)
Abnormal kidney ultrasound
Impaired kidney function expressed as impaired GFR still present one year after acute HUS

One of our most important tasks in representing people with HUS is to determine whether an HUS survivor has made a full recovery or is going to experience life-long and potentially very serious problems with their kidneys or blood pressure.

Pritzker Olsen attorneys are highly experienced in representing HUS survivors. We represent HUS survivors throughout the United States and are involved in virtually every E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. We have collected some of the largest E. coli O157:H7 and HUS recoveries for our clients. Call today for a free consultation about your E. coli O157:H7/HUS case.

Source Articles:

Long-term Renal Prognosis of Diarrhea-Associated Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/290/10/1360

Hemolytic uremic syndrome: defining the need for long-term follow-up

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10604642

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome; pathogenesis, treatment and outcome

http://www.oak-tree.us/articles/Peds-Review01.pdf

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in Adults

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20399168

Duration of oliguria and anuria as predictors of chronic renal-related sequelae in post-diarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18465151

Treatment and outcome of Shiga-toxin-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)