Haemolytic-uraemic syndrome in recipients of bone marrow transplants not treated with cyclosporin A.

We report three cases of haemolytic-uraemic syndrome following bone marrow transplantation in young males. None of them was treated with cyclosporin A. All died in renal failure. Renal histology showed the typical appearances of haemolytic-uraemic syndrome. Immunoperoxidase examination of renal biopsies showed IgM and complement in blood vessels and glomeruli of all three cases. Cytomegalovirus infection was present in two cases and probable in the third. Two cases had been infected with herpes zoster. All had episodes of graft-versus-host disease. Possible pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed.