Patient selection:
(1) age < 18 years of age
(2) postdiarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome
Causes of death:
(1) cerebral involvement (stroke, cerebral edema, etc.)
(2) congestive heart failure
(3) intra-alveolar hemorrhage or respiratory arrest
(4) hyperkalemia
Risk factors on admission associated with mortality:
(1) dehydration (relative risk 1.9)
(2) oliguria or anuria (relative risk 1.8 and 2.6 respectively)
(3) seizures (relative risk 8.5)
(4) white blood cell count > 20,000 per µL (relative risk 2.6)
(5) hematocrit > 23% (relative risk 7.6)
where:
• An hematocrit > 23% does not seem high, especially in a patient who is dehydrated.
