Hypoproteinemia in the hemolytic-uremic syndrome of childhood.

A retrospective review of admission serum protein concentration in 18 children with hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) showed significantly decreased serum total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations upon admission compared with 22 matched controls (P < 0.003). One child with atypical disease without diarrhea had normal serum protein concentrations. A strongly positive correlation (P = 0.006) was found between the age of HUS patients with diarrhea and their lowest total protein concentrations. In 10 children who eventually required hemodialysis, there was a significantly negative correlation (r = -0.8316, P = 0.01) between the admission serum albumin and the patients' highest creatinine levels, suggesting that hypoproteinemia may be a risk factor in the development of renal failure. The pathophysiological and clinical significance of hypoproteinemia in HUS needs further investigation.