Preliminary report: treatment of the hemolytic-uremic syndrome with aspirin and dipyridamole.

Three children with the hemolytic-uremic syndrome were treated with heparin, aspirin, and dipyridamole. Two of the children had remained profoundly thrombocytopenic in spite of platelet transfusion and heparin therapy. All three patients responded with prompt elevation of their platelet counts and apparent termination of the pathologic consumption of platelets. Our experience suggests not only that primary platelet consumption may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of the HUS, but also that such patients may benefit from therapy with drugs which inhibit platelet function.