Paper Example on Treatment of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)

Introduction

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome refers to a complication resulting from the infection of the body by the pathogenic E. coli 0157: H7 (Hickok, Eriksson, & Williams, 2018). The bacteria produce Shiga toxin that damages the epithelial walls of the renal tubules and glomerular. The toxin also causes distortions to the shape of red blood cells that lead to their destruction in the spleen. The condition is difficult to treat because of how it manifests and its damaging effects on the kidney function and blood components as well as other physiological alterations. An effective treatment and management of HUS involve a combination of intervention mechanisms described as Best Supportive Care (BSC) (Grisaru, 2014). Patients with HUS require renal support, fluid replacement, and medication for neurological manifestations of the illness.

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Initially, plasma therapy was the preferred treatment for the patients who had HUS. It involves the exchange of plasma to substitute the proteins with functional defects and discards the overactive proteins (Kavanagh, Raman, & Sheerin, 2014). Currently, the most effective treatment for HUS entails the administration of eculizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody. Scientific study reports that led to its approval by the FDA demonstrated its effectiveness in 80% of the patients who participated in the research studies for eculizumab evaluation (Grisaru, 2014). Its effects led to the improved renal function, controlling hemolysis of the red blood cells and eliminating the need for dialysis in many cases that did not respond to plasma therapy (Kavanagh, Raman, & Sheerin, 2014). The antibody acts by inhibiting the activation of the terminal components of the immune system complement.

Furthermore, other treatment options during the acute stage of HUS include the administration of antiplatelet agents, antioxidants, immunoglobulin (IgG) infused intravenously, corticosteroids, and fibrinolytic agents (Grisaru, 2014). Another effective and safe intervention for the treatment of HUS in children that have advanced end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is renal transplantation. Research studies indicate that the recurrence rate of HUS for the patients that received a renal transplant is below ten percent (Kavanagh, Raman, & Sheerin, 2014). In addition, supportive therapy for HUS treatment includes maintaining electrolyte and fluid balance, optimized nutrition, prophylactic phenytoin for controlling seizures, and control of blood pressure (Kavanagh, Raman, & Sheerin, 2014).

The treatment outcomes that result from BSC indicate remarkable improvement and restoration of the normal body physiological conditions. In children, the typical HUS is often self-limiting and there is a likelihood of full recovery (Hickok, Eriksson, & Williams, 2018). However, if the disease is not properly managed, it can lead to a number of complications in adults. The long-term complications associated with the HUS include severe kidney damage and extra-renal damage that may involve brain and pancreas damage. Furthermore, there are chances of developing future sequelae (Hickok, Eriksson, & Williams, 2018). In HUS illness, the kidney failure is often temporary and the patients tend to regain full kidney function. Nevertheless, some people may never recover sufficient kidney functioning that can later lead to gradual kidney failure within a few years after recovery.

Conclusion

Conclusively, effective treatment of HUS requires a combination of intervention mechanisms to address various physiological effects that result from the condition. For instance, the hemolytic effect on the red blood cells, damaging of the epithelial lining of the kidney vessels, and functionally defective proteins in the blood. The lack of appropriate treatment and management of the disease can lead to different short-term and long-term complications that endanger the lives of affected patients.

References

Grisaru, S. (2014). Management of hemolytic-uremic syndrome in children. International journal of nephrology and renovascular disease, 7, 231.

Hickok, R., Eriksson, C., & Williams, C. (2018). Complications and Outcomes for Children Hospitalized with Typical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in the United States.

Kavanagh, D., Raman, S., & Sheerin, N. S. (2014). Management of hemolytic uremic syndrome. F1000prime reports, 6.