OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of continuous blood purification (CBP) combined with hemoperfusion (HP) in children with hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) and to investigate its possible mechanism.

METHODSEight children with HUS received CBP combined with HP on the basis of internal medicine treatment in the acute stage. Before and after treatment, serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured by chemiluminescence method, and levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCr), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase MB (CKMB), hemoglobin (Hb), platelet (PLT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. Eight healthy children undergoing physical examination were used as controls.

RESULTSThe 8 children with HUS all survived after CBP combined with HP and showed improved conditions. They had increased Hb and PLT levels and decreased serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, BUN, SCr, ALT, CK and CRP after treatment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCBP combined with HP can quickly remove pathogenic factors, continually eliminate inflammatory mediators and toxins, and reverse multiple organ dysfunction, and is one of effective methods for treating HUS in children.