IgG Immunoadsorption for Complications of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), as the name implies, is usually characterized by red cell destruction and kidney injury. However, the HUS epidemic that struck Germany earlier this year was also associated with brain impairment in the form of seizures, aphasia, and myoclonus and was extremely difficult to manage.

Now, German researchers report the results of using immunoglobulin G (IgG) immunoadsorption during the recent epidemic to ameliorate cerebral disease in 12 patients who developed Escherichia coli O104:H4-associated HUS and neurological complications that did not respond to therapeutic plasma exchange or the anti-C5 monoclonal antibody eculizumab. Neurological symptoms appeared 5 to 12 days after the onset of diarrhea and included se…