Atypical HUS
Related Information: Atypical hus, ttp hus, hus syndrome
No cure has been found out in the case of Atypical
HUS. In reality, since each and every case varies, treatment
cannot be standardized. Children suffering from Atypical HUS are in a
greater life threatening situation. However, if the disease is diagnosed
and treated early, there are chances for survival.
But the sad thing is that children with Atypical HUS often develop other
complications like
• Recurrence
• Seizures/Neurological problems
• Kidney failure
• Supportive treatments will not prove effective
• In spite of kidney transplantation, Atypical HUS can occur again
• Hypertension in the severe form or very high blood pressure.
It is good to be aware of some older statistics. Only then, people can
take the necessary steps at the right time before it is too late. There
are some old websites which show a greater percentage of mortality rates.
This was because Atypical HUS was a very frightening disease in those
times and death rates were very high. Now it has been falling considerably
and steps are further taken to lower the rates more. The cause for succeeding
in dealing with death rates due to Atypical HUS is the early prognosis
used by the MDs. Kidney removal is one of the treatment options but the
last resort though removal of the kidney will stop all symptoms. But once
the kidneys are removed, the patient needs to be on dialysis. Removal
of kidneys is a very serious condition and hence it is the last option
preferred.
Nevertheless, in children suffering from Atypical HUS, there is often
a gradual decrease in the kidney functioning as time passes and can lead
to kidney loss without removal. But in nearly half the cases, kidneys
are saved.
Atypical HUS does not start violently in most of the cases. But the child
just falls ill and gets fatigued, irritated, infected and finally lethargic
to the point which leads to hospitalization. Supportive treatment is essential
for effective prevention of any further damage. But Typical HUS starts
off violently along with severe gastroenteritis accompanied sometimes
by bloody diarrhea.
After the beginning stage, both Atypical and typical HUS have the same
symptoms. Atypical HUS causes blood clotting and hence leads to vascular
enlargement. Clotting has the potential to damage the kidneys and hence
this finally leads to acute kidney failure, making the need for dialysis,
kidney transplants, etc.
Symptoms can vary widely from neurological problems like seizures, coma,
blindness, etc to life threatening problems. Intense intestinal and neurologic
problems are indications of severe HUS. They have poor prognosis. Patients
with Atypical HUS are likely to get the disease recurrently and are even
more likely to get chronic kidney failure or other complications like
high BP. These episodes may recur with colds and infections routinely.