ABSTRACT
Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) is an uncommon but serious condition with an incidence of at least 75 cases per year in the UK. The incidence has risen abruptly since the early 1980s, but this may be because of improved reporting. HUS is characterized by microangiopathic anaemia, thrombocytopenia and acute renal failure. Over 50% of patients require dialysis for acute renal failure and the mortality in the acute phase is 10-15%. The majority of cases are associated with a prodromal diarrhoeal illness (D+), but rare cases are idiopathic, inherited or drug associated (D−).
