Abstract
We present two cases of acute renal failure associated with a microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia following pneumococcal infections. In both children there was evidence of red cell T-poly-agglutinability (being manifest initially as discrepant A80 blood grouping). In one child pneumococci were isolated from the blood whilst in the other there was antigenic evidence of a recent pneumococcal infection. Both children had a period of oliguric renal failure requiring dialysis. Prostaglandin metabolism was shown to be normal in both children. Renal biopsy in one case showed evidence of exposure of the T antigen on the renal glomeruli, tubules and red cell casts. Pneumococci are known to produce the enzyme neuraminidase which has been implicated in T-activation. We suggest that T-activation following pneumococcal infection should be included in the spectrum of the Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome.
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McGraw, M., Stevens, R., Postlethwaite, R. et al. ACUTE RENAL FAILURE AND HAEMOLYTIC ANAEMIA FOLLOWING PNEUMOCOCCAL INFECTION. Pediatr Res 18, 809 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198408000-00099
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198408000-00099