D59.3: Haemolytic-uraemic syndrome

Your red blood cells are being broken down too soon. Your kidneys have also been damaged.

Blood is made up of blood plasma and blood cells. The blood cells also include red blood cells. They contain haemoglobin, the pigment that gives the blood its red color. This pigment is important for carrying oxygen in the blood.

The disease is often caused by certain pathogens that also trigger diarrhea. The disease may also be hereditary or caused by other conditions. Sometimes the exact cause is not known. The disease often causes blood clots to be formed in the small blood vessels. These block the blood vessels. The red blood cells are also damaged and broken down.

If lots of red blood cells are broken down too soon, then you may not have enough haemoglobin in the body. If you don’t have enough haemoglobin, then the body can no longer transport as much oxygen. This can mean, for example, that you’re exhausted more quickly or you have difficulty breathing. If very many red blood cells are broken down at once, then you can be seriously ill.

The disease often causes blood clots to damage the kidneys or other organs like the brain. There are normally 2 kidneys in the body. They filter blood and create urine. They thus help to detoxify the body. Furthermore, the kidneys regulate the blood pressure and salt content in the blood, among other things. Sometimes the kidneys are also damaged by blood breakdown products or by changed red blood cells. When the kidneys stop working properly, toxic substances and fluid can also accumulate in the body.