Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

Did your loved one develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) after contracting an E. coli infection? Would you like information about compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering and other damages?

CONTACT AN ATTORNEY ABOUT AN E. COLI HUS LAWSUIT >>

Pritzker Olsen, P.A., one of the leading E. coli-HUS litigation law firms in the United States, is currently representing E. coli victims who developed HUS. Read about our E. coli HUS cases >>

Our E. coli-HUS lawyers have been interviewed by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Lawyers USA and others. We represent E. coli-HUS victims throughout the United States. To contact a lawyer at our law firm for a free consultation, please call 1-888-377-8900 (toll-free) or submit our online consultation form.

What is Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome?
Hemolytic uremic syndrome—pronounced HEE-mo-LIT-ik yoo-REE-mik syndrome—is an illness that most commonly occurs in the aftermath of food poisoning, particularly infection from E. coli bacteria. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) usually affects children under the age of 10 but adolescents and adults can get HUS as well.

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome is characterized by damage and destruction of the red blood cells, which leads to a lower than normal number of red blood cells (a condition called anemia), blood clots, and damage to blood vessel walls. Complications of HUS are severe and can include the following:

Hemolytic anemia and associated blood complications
Abnormal kidney function
HUS Kidney failure (renal failure) that may require a kidney transplant (renal transplant) - illness accompanying kidney failure is called uremia (develops when urea and other waste products are retained in the blood)
Gall stones - probably caused by rapid hemolysis, breaking open of red blood cells and the release of hemoglobin
Elevated pancreatic enzyme levels that could lead to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and or HUS pancreatitis
Central Nervous System (CNS) disturbances such as irritablilty, behavior changes, disorientation, delerium, hallucinations, dizziness and tremors
HUS Seizures
HUS Coma
HUS Stroke
HUS Encephalopathy
Respiratory disease syndrome
Convulsions
Heart problems, including heart attack (myocardial infarction), cardio myopathy, cardiogenic shock, congestive heart failure (HUS heart attack and heart failure)
Cortical blindness, caused by damage to the visual area in the brain's occipital cortex
HUS Thrombocytopenia (platelet deficiency in the blood)
Death

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, E. coli and Foodborne Illness
E. coli Bacteria Most cases of HUS syndrome are preceded by gastrointestinal illness, often from a foodborne germ that causes bloody diarrhea. These cases of HUS are referred to as Typical HUS. The most common microorganisms associated with Typical HUS are Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli) and Shigella, although it seems that nearly any infection that results in bloody diarrhea could lead to Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. The majority of HUS cases result from E. coli contamination of food like meat, dairy products, and juice. According to some studies, as many as 15 percent of children who are infected with E. coli develope hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Kidney Damage in Children from Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Caused by E. Coli
Most patients with hemolytic uremic syndrome experience complete recovery and nearly no risk of recurring symptoms. With careful and aggressive medical attention, the risk of fatality due to HUS is less than four percent. Up to 30 percent of the children who survive hemolytic uremic syndrome, however, will be left with permanent damage to their kidneys. Children who recover usually do so quickly, while afflicted adults may experience longer recovery times since kidney damage is usually more extensive in adult HUS cases.

Recent studies show that hemolytic uremic syndrome caused by E. coli infection is now the most common cause of renal failure for children in the U.S. It is recommended that people who recover from HUS undergo long-term follow-up and observation to monitor for the potential onset of chronic kidney disease, hypertension (high blood pressure), and chronic neurologic damage.

Approximately 7,500 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome are diagnosed each year in the U.S. --similar to the rate of incidence for leukemia in the general population--but until all fifty states classify HUS as a reportable disease, an accurate rate of incidence will be impossible to determine.

Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
Although much more rare, atypical HUS, characterized by many of the same symptoms and risks that are common to Typical HUS, will sometimes follow the use of certain drugs, pregnancy or cancer. Rather than being caused by an external agent--such as a foodborne pathogen--these cases of HUS seem to be caused by some internal factor. One theory suggests that some people have a genetic weakness—that means their bodies do not make a protein or enzyme which is crucial to resisting hemolytic uremic syndrome. An important distinction between Typical and atypical HUS concerns the severity and likelihood of recurrence of the symptoms. Although Typical HUS often starts with more severe symptoms, atypical HUS often has lingering effects.

Links to More Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome and E. coli Information
For more HUS information, please read the following:

If you or someone you love has become seriously ill from food poisoning, contact us for a free consultation about an E. coli-HUS lawsuit. You can reach one of our lawyers by calling toll-free at 1-888-377-8900, e-mailing info@pritzkerlaw.com, or filling in our online consultation form.

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Non-O157 E. coli (Non-O157 STEC)

Non-O157 E. coli can cause serious injury and death, and yet ground beef contaminated with these strains of E. coli are not considered adulterated under federal law. The six most common strains of non-O157 E. coli include E. coli O26, E. coli O45, E. coli O103, E. coli O111, E. coli O121 and E. coli O145.

Steak E. coli Outbreak

Our E. coli lawyers are investigating cases of E. coli O157 that have been linked to steak served at restaurants in California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and Washington.

Recent Foodborne Outbreaks

Taco John's Lawsuit: Taco Johns food poisoning lawsuit information.
Taco Bell Lawsuit: Information about a Taco Bell food poisoning lawsuit.
Chipotle Lawsuit: Update on Chipotle food poisoning case and Chipotle lawsuit FAQ.
Subway Salmonellosis Lawsuit: 34 people were sickened, and 14 of those were hospitalized, all in Illinios.
Hartmann Dairy E coli Lawsuit Lawyer - 5 people, 4 of them children, contracted E. coli, and one of those developed HUS.
Freshway Foods lettuce lawsuit - We are representing one of the people who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome.
Pasture Maid Creamery Campylobacter: Our lawyers are representing a man who was paralyzed with Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Peppa's E. coli Lawsuit - An E. coli outbreak in Hawaii associated with the restaurant.
Daniele Salami Lawsuit: Daniele salami (salame) has been linked to a Salmonella Montevideo outbreak.
Steak E. coli Outbreak: Over 20 people were sickened by blade-tenderized, non-intact steak.
Fairbank Farms Lawsuit: A multistate E. coli outbreak has been linked to Fairbank Farms hamburger.

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