FECAL CYTOTOXIN ON VERO CELLS (VT) AND CIRCULATING VT1 ANTIBODIES IN THE IDIOPATHIC HEMOLYTIC UREMIC SYNDROME (HUS), COMPARED WITH FAMILY MEMBERS LIVING TOGETHER (FM) AND CONTROLS WITH FAMILY DIARRHEA (C)

Between January and July 1988, 14 children with HUS, 28 FM and 12 C were investigated. Mean age of HUS was, 11.9 months(3 - 36) and of C, 7.5 months (3-15). In both groups sex distribution

was 50%. The prodromal illness in HUS was characterized by diarrhea in 100%, bloody stools in 85.7% and upperrespiratory tract symptoms in 21.4%.

Laboratory data in HUS and C respectively were: hematocrit 22% (13-29) and 34 (28-41); leukocytes, 23,170 (8,800-91,000) and 10,700 (7,800-14,300). Platelet count, 92,000 (10,000-200,000)

and 287,000 (170,000-650,000); blood urea, 161mg% (40-290) and 22 (10-61); serum creatinine, 3.5mg% (0.8-7.8) and 0.54 (0.45-0.81). In HUS red blood cell transfusion and peritoneal dialysis

was respectively required in 78.6% and 42.9% of the cases.

First samples were obtained in HUS at mean of 9.6 days (4-27) and in C at 5.8 days (2-16) after the onset of acute diarrhea. 42.8% of HUS and none of C had reveived previous antibiotic

treatment.

Fecal VT was detected in 10 HUS (71.4%) in 4 FM (14.3%) and in 1 C (8.3%; p