Table 8.
Investigations | |
---|---|
1. STEC infection | Stool or rectal swab: culture for STEC (Mac Conkey for 0157:H7); PCR for Stx Serum: anti-LPS antibodies against the most common serotypes in the local country |
2. Disorders of complement regulation | C3, C4 (plasma/serum) Factor H, Factor I, Factor B (plasma/serum) Anti-factor H autoantibodies MCP (surface expression on leucocytes (polynuclear or mononuclear leucocytes by FACS) Gene mutation analysis in factor H, factor I, MCP, C3, factor B |
3. ADAMTS13 deficiency inherited or acquired classification |
Plasma ADAMTS13 activity or dosage (Elisa) ± inhibitor |
4. Cobalamin metabolism:methyl malonic aciduria | Plasma amino-acid chromatography (high homocysteine, low methionine); urine organic acid chromatography (methyl-malonic aciduria) ± mutation analysis in MMACHC gene |
5. HIV | Serology |
6. Pregnancy, HELLP syndrome | Pregancy test, liver enzymes. Investigate as in 2 and 3 |
7. Miscellaneous | Antinuclear antibody, lupus anticoagulant, anti-phospholipid antibodies |
STEC: Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli; Stx: Shiga-like toxin; PCR: polymerase chain reaction; ADAMTS13: A Desintegrin And Metalloproteinase with a ThromboSpondin type 1 motif, member 13;HIV: human immunodeficiency virus; HELLP: Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, Low Platelet count; MCP: membrane cofactor protein; FACS: fluorescence-activated cell sorter; MMACHC: methylmalonic aciduria and homocystinuria;