Both HUS and aHUS are most frequently diagnosed in children aged less than five years, with about 70% of them presenting a first episode of the disease during their first two years of life [5]. Thus, observation of the symptoms detailed below is highly suggestive of either form of the disease if presented by a young child.

During the prodromal stage, patients may suffer from gastroenteritis with abdominal pain and diarrhea, possibly containing blood. Historically, diarrhea has been assumed to be typical of HUS but not of aHUS, but this distinction no longer holds true [5]. Nevertheless, the prodromal phase may also be characterized by an upper respiratory infection or influenza, or may not be observed at all [11].

Symptom onset is usually sudden, and the disease follows a course of apparent remission and recurrence:

• Parents report feeding difficulties, and the patients themselves suffer from lethargy, fatigue and vomiting.
• Due to anemia, patients often appear pale or cyanotic, and tachycardia may be noted.
• Thrombocytopenia rarely manifests in form of petechiae, hematoma or spontaneous hemorrhages.
• Development of peripheral edema is related to renal loss of proteins and subsequent hypoalbuminemia. However, clinical symptoms associated with renal insufficiency may also be limited to hematuria during early stages of the disease, while they tend to worsen with each episode of aHUS. Oliguria or anuria may occur. Disease progression varies largely and some patients may develop end-stage renal disease as early as during their first bout of aHUS.

Only minor shares of patients present with an incomplete aHUS triad and only show one or two symptoms of the classical symptom complex.

In advanced stages of the disease, long-term sequelae of renal impairment may manifest:

• Renal impairment may lead to nephrotic syndrome, i.e., severe chronic proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia and edema.
• Renal hypertension may cause dizziness, headaches and visual impairment as well as decreased awareness. Other symptoms pointing at compromise of the central nervous system are facial paralysis, hemiparesis, and seizures.
• The latter may also result from a cerebrovascular accident, since thrombi may be carried to any other organ and trigger thromboembolism. Accordingly, aHUS patients are at risk of myocardial infarction as well.

• Easy Bruising

  Thrombocytopenia can cause easy bruising and abnormal bleeding. [ghr.nlm.nih.gov]

  Signs and symptoms of these changes include: Pale coloring, including loss of pink color in cheeks and inside the lower eyelids Extreme fatigue Shortness of breath Easy bruising or unexplained bruises Unusual bleeding, such as bleeding from the nose and [mayoclinic.org]

• Anemia

  We hypothesized that atypical neonatal HUS can progress to PA because of the presence of severe anemia and microthrombi formation. [Indexed for MEDLINE] Free full text [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  From Wikidata Jump to navigation Jump to search complement deficiency that is characterized by mechanical hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and renal dysfunction atypical hemolytic-uremic syndrome edit English Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome complement [wikidata.org]

• Pain

  The allograft preserved good renal function [serum creatinine (sCr) level 110-130 μmol/L] until a sudden attack of abdominal pain four years after transplant, with acute renal failure (sCr level, 385.3 μmol/L), decreasing platelet count, and hemolytic [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Adverse Reactions The most frequently reported adverse reactions in the PNH randomized trial ( 10% overall and greater than placebo) are: headache, nasopharyngitis, back pain, and nausea. [soliris.net]

  In summary, this is a 22 year old female patient who presented with abdominal pain, scleral icterus, and hematuria and was found to have hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury with proteinuria. [pubs.sciepub.com]

  However, Idiopathic Atypical Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome could occur even without genetic mutations in an individual, due to unknown cause(s) The symptoms of Atypical Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome could include abdominal pain, low urine output, jaundice, weakness [dovemed.com]

  Uraemia: signs and symptoms of kidney failure; signs and symptoms of uraemia can include nausea, vomiting, metallic taste in the mouth, muscle pain, and swelling. [ahussource.eu]

• Swelling

  Glomerular thrombosis, intracapillary foamy cells, endocapillary swelling and hypercellularity, mesangiolysis, and double basement membranes are observed in aHUS kidney biopsy. Arterioles have thrombosis, endothelial swelling, or fibrinoid necrosis. [karger.com]

  Uraemia: signs and symptoms of kidney failure; signs and symptoms of uraemia can include nausea, vomiting, metallic taste in the mouth, muscle pain, and swelling. [ahussource.eu]

  Acute oedematous intimal expansion with endothelial swelling and partial occlusion of the lumen without thrombosis (HES, 400). C Activation of complement in heart vessel and myocardium. [doi.org]

  Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is the term for a histopathologic lesion of small vessels (arterioles and capillaries) characterized by swelling and detachment of the endothelium, subendothelial accumulation of protein and cellular debris, and obstruction [hematology.org]

• Fatigue

  Common side effects include hypertension, fatigue, headaches, and increased risk of infections. Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome is a serious side effect associated with bevacizumab due to its anti-angiogenic effect. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Test your knowledge A 52 year old man was transferred to the renal unit with a four day history of fatigue, shortness of breath, headache and malaise. On examination, he was pale with multiple petechiae on his arms and legs. [web.era-edta.org]

  Some of the signs and symptoms of aHUS include: confusion; diarrhea, nausea and vomiting; shortness of breath; fatigue; heart symptoms and kidney symptoms. Certain lab tests can help your doctor determine if you may have aHUS. [enerca.org]

  A variety of nonspecific symptoms including poor feeding, vomiting, fatigue, edema, and lethargy may be seen. In adults, fatigue and general malaise are the most common complaints. [rarediseases.org]

• Pallor

  We present the case of a 2-month-old infant presenting with pallor and laboratory results showing: hemoglobin 5.1 (10 to 1.5) g/dL, MCV 94.7 (75 to 105) fL, leukocytes 17.4 (7 to 15)  10/μL, platelets 259 (150 to 450)  10/μL, hyperbilirubinemia and renal [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Anemia can lead to unusually pale skin (pallor), yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice), fatigue, shortness of breath, and a rapid heart rate. [ghr.nlm.nih.gov]

  Severe pallor, as well as icterus, was present. There was no palpable organomegaly. On routine investigation, he was anemic (hemoglobin 4.9 g%) with thrombocytopenia (platelets 97,000). Total leukocyte counts were normal. [ijccm.org]

  Patient Presentation We report on a 5.5-month-old girl who presented with pallor, fatigue, and nonbloody diarrhea. On admission, she was jaundiced, with elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), progressive anemia, and thrombocytopenia, indicating TMA. [pediatrics.aappublications.org]

  They can be found as triangular, helmet shaped, or comma shaped with pointed edges, schistocytes are most often found to be microcytic with no area of central pallor. [wikivisually.com]

• Dyspnea

  A 38-year-old Japanese man with a history of central retinal vein occlusion was admitted to our hospital with progressive dyspnea. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  With a suspicion of endocarditis, and with worsening symptoms of dyspnea, fatigue, decreased physical tolerance, and tachycardia, the patient was hospitalized. [hindawi.com]

  Clinical signs and symptoms of TMA include changes in mental status, seizures, angina, dyspnea, or thrombosis. [soliris.net]

  Presentation A 31-year-old African American female with past medical history significant for type I diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension, chronic kidney disease, venous thrombosis, and cerebral palsy presented with a severe headache, confusion, cough, dyspnea [cureus.com]

  CASE REPORT Female, 35 years-old, presented complaining with dyspnea, nausea and oliguria initiated 6 days before admission. She referred flu-like symptoms 15 days before. Her past medical history was unremarkable. [jbn.org.br]

• Diarrhea

  Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome is a triad of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and acute renal failure not associated with diarrhea. It is a rare condition associated with complement disorders in about 50 percent of cases. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  ORPHA:2134 Synonym(s): Atypical HUS D-HUS Hemolytic-uremic syndrome without diarrhea aHUS Prevalence: 1-9 / 1 000 000 Inheritance: Autosomal dominant or Autosomal recessive or Not applicable Age of onset: All ages ICD-10: D58.8 OMIM: 235400 609814 612922 [orpha.net]

• Vomiting

  A previously healthy 8-month-old boy was referred to our hospital because of onset of fever, vomiting, and a single episode of nonbloody diarrhea. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Some of the signs and symptoms of aHUS include: confusion; diarrhea, nausea and vomiting; shortness of breath; fatigue; heart symptoms and kidney symptoms. Certain lab tests can help your doctor determine if you may have aHUS. [enerca.org]

  Uraemia: signs and symptoms of kidney failure; signs and symptoms of uraemia can include nausea, vomiting, metallic taste in the mouth, muscle pain, and swelling. [ahussource.eu]

  The most frequently reported adverse reactions in aHUS single arm prospective trials ( 20%) are: headache, diarrhea, hypertension, upper respiratory infection, abdominal pain, vomiting, nasopharyngitis, anemia, cough, peripheral edema, nausea, urinary [soliris.net]

• Nausea

  We bring the case of a 38-year-old man who was presented to the emergency department with nausea, fever, and choluria, 4 days after the ingestion of raw oysters. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Adverse Reactions The most frequently reported adverse reactions in the PNH randomized trial ( 10% overall and greater than placebo) are: headache, nasopharyngitis, back pain, and nausea. [soliris.net]

  He suffered from recurrent episodes of flash edema preceded by nausea and regurgitation that required intubation and dialysis. His condition improved after treatment with eculizumab and IVIG. [thejh.org]

  Some of the signs and symptoms of aHUS include: confusion; diarrhea, nausea and vomiting; shortness of breath; fatigue; heart symptoms and kidney symptoms. Certain lab tests can help your doctor determine if you may have aHUS. [enerca.org]

  Uraemia: signs and symptoms of kidney failure; signs and symptoms of uraemia can include nausea, vomiting, metallic taste in the mouth, muscle pain, and swelling. [ahussource.eu]

• Abdominal Pain

  The allograft preserved good renal function [serum creatinine (sCr) level 110-130 μmol/L] until a sudden attack of abdominal pain four years after transplant, with acute renal failure (sCr level, 385.3 μmol/L), decreasing platelet count, and hemolytic [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  The most frequently reported adverse reactions in aHUS single arm prospective trials ( 20%) are: headache, diarrhea, hypertension, upper respiratory infection, abdominal pain, vomiting, nasopharyngitis, anemia, cough, peripheral edema, nausea, urinary [soliris.net]

  In summary, this is a 22 year old female patient who presented with abdominal pain, scleral icterus, and hematuria and was found to have hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury with proteinuria. [pubs.sciepub.com]

  pain, nausea, bilious vomiting and decrease urine output for two weeks. [medintensiva.org]

• Blood in Stool

  There were numerous schistocytes on blood films. Stool culture was negative for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, and serum ADAMTS13 activity was normal ( 85%). [benthamopen.com]

• Jaundice

  These might include acute kidney failure, end-stage kidney disease, liver malfunction (leading to jaundice), clot formation leading to damage to the heart (heart attack) and brain (stroke) Lifelong treatment and therapy may be required to manage Atypical [dovemed.com]

  Anemia can lead to unusually pale skin (pallor), yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice), fatigue, shortness of breath, and a rapid heart rate. [ghr.nlm.nih.gov]

  On admission, she was jaundiced, with elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), progressive anemia, and thrombocytopenia, indicating TMA. [pediatrics.aappublications.org]

  On physical examination, she presented jaundice in sclera, pale mucous membranes and a mild edema in legs bilaterally. The cardiac and pulmonary auscultation were normal. The laboratory tests on admission are illustrated at Table 2. Table 2. [jbn.org.br]

  A 55-day-old female infant was admitted to our hospital with sudden onset of jaundice and pallor 1 day after the second dose of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine injection (containing 10 µg HBsAg/0.5 mL and 0.475 mg aluminum hydroxide/0.5 mL). [ziaristionline.ro]

• Hypertension

  She was pyrexial (38 C), tachycardic (110 bpm) and hypertensive (160/110 mmHg). Her fundoscopy revealed grade IV hypertensive retinopathy. She had mild pretibial and periorbital edema, with oliguria (450 mL/day). [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

• Tachycardia

  With a suspicion of endocarditis, and with worsening symptoms of dyspnea, fatigue, decreased physical tolerance, and tachycardia, the patient was hospitalized. [hindawi.com]

  Due to anemia, patients often appear pale or cyanotic, and tachycardia may be noted. Thrombocytopenia rarely manifests in form of petechiae, hematoma or spontaneous hemorrhages. [symptoma.com]

  Hemolytic anemia can cause pallor, fatigue, systolic murmur, and tachycardia. Although frequent, thrombocytopenia is not always present. Spontaneous bleeding and petechiae are uncommon. Acute kidney injury may be mild or severe. [rarediseases.org]

• Visual Impairment

  Renal hypertension may cause dizziness, headaches and visual impairment as well as decreased awareness. Other symptoms pointing at compromise of the central nervous system are facial paralysis, hemiparesis, and seizures. [symptoma.com]

  Case 2 A 43-year-old Caucasian woman with a history of migraine headaches since childhood presented with severe headaches and visual impairment lasting for several days. [link.springer.com]

  Visual impairment and central nervous system involvement is rare in autosomal dominant osteopetrosis type II [12]. Severe visual loss was reported in 19% of the patients by Waguespack et al. [21]. [hindawi.com]

  In 11 of the 12 cases, visual loss clearly had its onset in childhood, suggesting that visual impairment, when it occurs, has its onset early in life. [academic.oup.com]

• Petechiae

  On examination, he was pale with multiple petechiae on his arms and legs. Blood pressure was 175/90. [web.era-edta.org]

  There was no bruises or petechiae. Cardiorespiratory and gastrointestinal examinations were unremarkable. She demonstrated bilateral intention tremor and past pointing with unsteady gait. She had 3 witnessed “dystonic” events in the department. [imj.ie]

  Thrombocytopenia rarely manifests in form of petechiae, hematoma or spontaneous hemorrhages. Development of peripheral edema is related to renal loss of proteins and subsequent hypoalbuminemia. [symptoma.com]

  Spontaneous bleeding and petechiae are uncommon. Acute kidney injury may be mild or severe. The extent of permanent kidney injury tends to worsen with each episode. [rarediseases.org]

• Kidney Failure

  Failure, Chronic/blood Kidney Failure, Chronic/genetics Kidney Failure, Chronic/immunology* Kidney Failure, Chronic/therapy Kidney Transplantation* Male Plasma Exchange Recurrence Renal Dialysis Retrospective Studies United Kingdom Substances Antibodies [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Dialysis: a treatment for kidney failure. Normally, the kidneys work to filter the blood and remove waste, excess salt, and water. Kidney failure, also called “end-stage renal disease,” occurs when the kidneys stop working completely. [ahussource.eu]

  Kidney failure: the clots formed in the kidney capillaries can reduced the kidney filtration function and, eventually, lead to kidney failure. aHUS is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. [raregenomics.org]

• Hematuria

  A 28-day-old female presented with gross hematuria and hypertension. aHUS was suspected based on anemia with schistocytes, thrombocytopenia, low C3, and acute kidney injury requiring peritoneal dialysis. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  All presented with aHUS before age 1; had persistent hypertension, hematuria, and proteinuria (sometimes in the nephrotic range) between acute episodes; and developed chronic kidney disease with age. [hematology.org]

  Blood and protein in the urine (hematuria and proteinuria), frequent indicators of kidney disease, are common, especially during acute episodes. [rarediseases.org]

• Anuria

  Fluid overload with anuria further complicated the course necessating hemodialysis. Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome was suspected and eculizumab was administered resulting in rapid improvement. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  The patient presented with oliguria soon after the surgery and anuria on the 2 nd day, accompanied by promptly reduced liver and kidney function. [journal-ina.com]

  At the Intensive Care Unit he presented thrombocytopenia (platelets 98 10 9 ), severe kidney impairment with anuria and started hemodialysis. [medintensiva.org]

• Oliguria

  Although the patient had the typical triad of aHUS (microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury), urgent dialysis was not indicated because he had neither oliguria nor severe electrolyte abnormality. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Case Report Our patient was an Asian female aged 21 who was hospitalized on April 19, 2016, for oliguria and azotemia after her cesarean section. [journal-ina.com]

  Upon arrival at the nephrology department in Poznan, the patient’s condition was considered severe with dyspnea at rest, tachycardia, hypertension (190/100 mmHg), oliguria, decreased renal function (creatinine 4.69 mg/dL, urea 124 mg/dL), hemolysis (LDH [hindawi.com]

• Dark Urine

  The patient also reported noticing dark urine for several days although denied any frank blood and also denied any diarrhea. [pubs.sciepub.com]

• Headache

  Common side effects include hypertension, fatigue, headaches, and increased risk of infections. Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome is a serious side effect associated with bevacizumab due to its anti-angiogenic effect. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Adverse Reactions The most frequently reported adverse reactions in the PNH randomized trial ( 10% overall and greater than placebo) are: headache, nasopharyngitis, back pain, and nausea. [soliris.net]

  Test your knowledge A 52 year old man was transferred to the renal unit with a four day history of fatigue, shortness of breath, headache and malaise. On examination, he was pale with multiple petechiae on his arms and legs. [web.era-edta.org]

  After the first administration, the patient developed severe headache, but a repeat brain CT scan remained normal. [sjkdt.org]

• Seizure

  The second patient developed cerebral TMA (seizures, vision loss, and nystagmus) 6 days after initial presentation and remained unresponsive to PE/PI. [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  He later developed sudden onset severe headache followed by loss of vision progressing to generalized tonic–clonic seizures and status epilepticus. Blood pressure was increased at 200/140 mmHg. [ijccm.org]

  Clinical signs and symptoms of TMA include changes in mental status, seizures, angina, dyspnea, or thrombosis. [soliris.net]

• Confusion

  Although initial improvement in renal function was seen in both cases, the first patient showed progressing thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) despite daily PE, and neurological manifestations (seizures, vision loss, loss of balance, and confusion) developed [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Some of the signs and symptoms of aHUS include: confusion; diarrhea, nausea and vomiting; shortness of breath; fatigue; heart symptoms and kidney symptoms. Certain lab tests can help your doctor determine if you may have aHUS. [enerca.org]

  However, due to systemic thrombotic microangiopathy, there remains a possibility of failure in 90% of the transplants Additional and Relevant Useful Information for Atypical Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome: Atypical Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome should not be confused [dovemed.com]

  Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances As with all complement assays, proper sample handling is of utmost importance [mayomedicallaboratories.com]

  The atypical form can also be called Sporadic HUS, Familial HUS, Inherited HUS to confuse matters more between a random and genetic form of the disease. [ahusallianceaction.org]

• Stroke

  We present a child with early onset aHUS and a C3 gain-of-function mutation who developed cerebral artery stenoses, leading ultimately to death due to a massive stroke 9 days after successful renal transplantation under prophylactic eculizumab treatment [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  Stroke: damage to the brain. Strokes can happen when an artery in the brain becomes clogged or starts bleeding and cuts off the blood supply to that portion of the brain. Syndrome: a set of symptoms that occur together in a pattern. [ahussource.eu]

  A genetic, chronic, ultra-rare disease that can progressively damage vital organs, potentially leading to stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, and death…. We are coming up on the 3 year mark of his diagnosis. [rareundiagnosed.org]

  These might include acute kidney failure, end-stage kidney disease, liver malfunction (leading to jaundice), clot formation leading to damage to the heart (heart attack) and brain (stroke) Lifelong treatment and therapy may be required to manage Atypical [dovemed.com]

  […] bruising or unexplained bruises Unusual bleeding, such as bleeding from the nose and mouth Decreased urination or blood in the urine Swelling (edema) of the legs, feet or ankles, and less often in the face, hands, feet or entire body Confusion, seizures or stroke [mayoclinic.org]

• Lethargy

  The patient felt that he had no meaningful life when in hemodialysis 5 times per week, near-constant severe musculoskeletal pain, lethargy, and weakness. [austinpublishinggroup.com]

  Many affected individuals present with vague feelings of illness, fatigue, irritability, and lethargy that can potentially lead to hospitalization. The early phases may be difficult to diagnose, and the condition tends to be progressive. [rarediseases.org]

The aforedescribed symptoms are not specific and usually prompt laboratory analyses of blood samples. These may yield findings consistent with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and acute kidney impairment, i.e.,

• Hemoglobin levels <10 g/dl, undetectable haptoglobin and enhanced concentrations of lactate dehydrogenase, reticulocytosis, and schistocytes in blood smears
• Platelet counts <150*10^9/l, often <60*10^9/l
• Levels of urea >50 mg/dl and creatinine >1.2 mg/dl

Furthermore, urine analyses are of major importance for HUS and aHUS diagnosis. Proteinuria and hematuria are the most common findings. While urine parameters may initially normalize between episodes of the disease, proteinuria and hematuria may eventually become chronic. Such findings indicate the progressive worsening of kidney function.

It may be a major challenge to distinguish HUS from aHUS, and it is strongly advised not to delay the initiation of therapy until the disease etiology can be clarified. However, long-term treatment regimens and the patient's prognosis depend on the specific form of the disease and immediate medical attention should thus be accompanied by further diagnostic measures.

• Stool samples should be obtained and analyzed; in rare cases, causative pathogens may also originate from the urinary tract [14]. Detection of pathogens or toxins associated with HUS is highly suggestive but not diagnostic of this form of the disease [5] [11]. In turn, negative results don't rule out HUS.
• Concentrations of complement factors like factors H and I and C3 should be evaluated in serum samples. Reduced levels are indicative of a complement disorder. However, the sensitivity of such measurements is restricted since anomalies may be temporarily restricted to the endothelium.
• Genetic screens may reveal inherited complement disorders, but a single patient cannot possibly be tested for all possible mutations related to aHUS. A targeted approach is possible only if their familial history or disease course implies a particular defect.
• Circulating autoantibodies against factor H may be detected by employing immunoassays like ELISA [12].

• Schistocytosis

  She was found to have evidence of hemolytic anemia with schistocytosis, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure. The initial diagnosis was thought to be TTP. She did not undergo a kidney biopsy. [frontiersin.org]

  The presence of fragmented red blood cells (schistocytosis). An elevated creatinine concentration indicates decreased kidney function. A negative Coombs test is helpful in ruling out other causes of hemolytic anemia. [rarediseases.org]

  • A TMA may be documented in 2 ways: – Clinically, by signs of a microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (schistocytosis on peripheral blood smear, elevated LDH, elevated indirect bilirubin, and low haptoglobin) along with thrombocytopenia and clinical involvement [hematologyandoncology.net]

• Decreased Platelet Count

  The allograft preserved good renal function [serum creatinine (sCr) level 110-130 μmol/L] until a sudden attack of abdominal pain four years after transplant, with acute renal failure (sCr level, 385.3 μmol/L), decreasing platelet count, and hemolytic [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

  This leads to platelet activation, endothelial cell damage, and white blood cell activation, leading to systemic TMA, which manifests as decreased platelet count, hemolysis, damage to multiple organs, and ultimately, death. [en.wikipedia.org]

  Decreased platelet counts, i.e. less than 150,000/mm3. The presence of fragmented red blood cells (schistocytosis). An elevated creatinine concentration indicates decreased kidney function. [rarediseases.org]

  We report that severe renal impairment, high blood pressure and a mildly decreased platelet count in aHUS at diagnosis are associated with significant 1-year renal impairment. [journals.plos.org]

• Hemoglobin Decreased

  Her hemoglobin decreased from 13.1 to 4.5 g/dl, and her platelet count fell from 315 to 144 mm 3 during this same time period. At presentation, her C3 was mildly depressed at 81 mg/dl (normal 90 to 180 mg/dl) and the C4 was normal. [doi.org]

  • Decreased or undetectable serum haptoglobin levels are classic for any hemolytic anemia. [hematologyandoncology.net]

• Haptoglobin Decreased

  decreased hemoglobin, and/or the presence of schistocytes. [en.wikipedia.org]

  decreased hemoglobin, elevated lactate dehydrogenase, and schistocytes on blood film), proteinuria, hematuria, and elevated blood urea nitrogen and creatinine. [sjkdt.org]

• Blood Culture Positive

  He was found to have blood cultures positive for SPN. Shiga toxin was negative and he had normal levels of ADAMTS 13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13). [ncbi.nlm.nih.gov]

To date, only supportive treatment is available for therapy of aHUS patients. The following measures may be taken to delay disease progression and to relieve affected individuals of symptoms:

• Plasma therapy and apheresis are indicated as immediate measures, even before the disease underlying aHUS has been identified. This procedure aims at delivering functional complement factors and to remove abnormal molecules. During the first five days after diagnosis, up to 75 ml per kg body weight (approximately 1.5 × plasma volume) should be exchanged in daily sessions [7] [14]. Subsequently, the frequency of treatments is reduced to five per week for two weeks and eventually three per week for two weeks [14]. By this time, hemoglobin levels and platelet counts should have returned to reference ranges. Creatinine levels are not to be used as marker for the patient's response to plasmapheresis. The timely initiation of plasma therapy has a major impact on the patient's prognosis.
• Non-responders to plasmapheresis may require treatment with eculizumab, which has been approved for use in aHUS in late 2011 [15]. This compound inhibits complement activation by blocking the cleavage of C5 to C5a and C5b, and thus, response to therapy may be assessed by evaluating terminal complement markers. Eculizumab is initially administered weekly with subsequent reduction to bimonthly infusion. Unfortunately, long-term therapy with eculizumab is very expensive.
• Patients may also be considered for liver or kidney transplantation, particularly if long-term therapy with eculizumab is not an option or the patient does not respond to such treatment: Several complement factors are synthesized in the liver and thus, a healthy liver may provide functional proteins to those individuals diagnosed with determined deficiencies (e.g., factors H and I and C3). As well, there are few alternatives to renal transplantation if a patient develops end-stage renal disease. Recurrence and long-term graft survival rates depend on the precise underlying disorder.
• Patients suffering from aHUS due to an autoimmune response directed against complement factor H may benefit from immunosuppressive therapy.

Morbidity is mainly due to permanent kidney damage resulting in proteinuria, renal hypertension, chronic kidney insufficiency and end-stage renal disease. The overall risk of long-term sequelae is high, with the majority of aHUS patients developing end-stage renal disease within five years after diagnosis [3]. Since aHUS is associated with progressive organ damage, an early diagnosis allows for the initiation of treatment before irreversible lesions occur, and this is the single most important favorable prognostic factor [12].

aHUS has been reported to be associated with mortality rates of up to 25% [6]. Recent studies offer a more distinctive consideration and reveal that both morbidity and mortality differ largely depending on the underlying disorder. Poorest outcomes have been described for defects of the gene encoding for factor H, with 60% of affected individuals developing end-stage renal disease and dying within one year [13].

Both congenital and acquired aHUS may be caused by several primary diseases.

With regards to the former, congenital aHUS may be provoked by gene defects disturbing the balance between pro- and anti-thrombotic processes. aHUS may be induced by hereditary disorders of complement regulation that alter alternative complement pathway activation. Mutations have been identified in those genes encoding for factor H, factor I, C3, membrane cofactor protein (MCP), thrombomodulin and factor B, and are listed here in order of decreasing prevalence [7]. Factors H and I, MCP and thrombomodulin are required for C3b inactivation and thus for the downregulation of C3 convertase production. Deficiencies of these components of the complement system result in excess complement activation and consumption. Gain-of-function mutations affecting factor B may have similar consequences [8]. C3 mutations have been shown to impair factor I and MCP-mediated cleavage of C3b [9]. Complement disorders predisposing for aHUS may be inherited with an autosomal dominant or recessive trait, but mutations may also occur sporadically. The penetrance of mutations is incomplete.

Similar to the previously mentioned genetic causes of aHUS, dysregulation of the complement system may be triggered by an autoimmune-mediated depletion of complement factors. In this context, anti-factor H autoantibodies have recently been detected in blood samples obtained from aHUS patients [10].

Acquired aHUS has also been related to pre-existing glomerulopathy caused by autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus and anti-phospholipid syndrome, infection with human immunodeficiency virus, solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, malignancies and cancer therapy, pregnancy and use of oral contraceptives, application of calcineurin inhibitors, cyclosporin, quinine and other drugs [1] [3]. The causal relation between those entities and aHUS remains largely unknown, but the induction of complement anomalies has been proposed to explain at least some triggers of aHUS [7].

Of note, hereditary metabolic diseases causing symptoms consistent with HUS have previously been considered subtypes of aHUS. This applies for diacylglycerol kinase ε deficiency and disturbances of cobalamin metabolism [3]. Nowadays, these diseases are treated as own entities.

The annual incidence of HUS has been estimated to be 6 per 100,000 children aged less than five years, whereas less than 2 per 100,000 patients are affected by the disease each year [7]. The incidence of aHUS is not known exactly, but is presumably less than 1 per 100,000 inhabitants per year. While some sources state the overall incidence of aHUS to be as low as 0.2 per 100,000, others claim it to account for the majority of HUS in adults [5] [11]. Literature reviews yield contradictory results owing to the inconsistent use of the term "atypical": Initially, aHUS has been diagnosed when HUS patients did not experience a prodromal period characterized by diarrhea. Only later, the diagnosis of aHUS has been reserved for cases of non-infectious origin. Some experts also recommend to exclude hereditary metabolic diseases from aHUS, and the present article follows that specification [3].

According to current knowledge, aHUS is mainly triggered by complement disorders: Excess activation of the complement system is induced by deficiencies of inhibitors and gain-of-function mutations of factors that maintain this process. Since many complement factors are expressed by endothelial cells, such anomalies are associated with vascular damage. The latter is most prominent in small vessels, e.g., in capillaries forming glomeruli in the kidneys. Thus, affected individuals suffer from renal impairment. Thrombi easily form within damaged vessels, and thrombus formation may give rise to thromboembolic events. Eventually, platelets are consumed and the patient shows thrombocytopenia. Furthermore, erythrocytes passing through such vessels are subjected to mechanical stress and may be destroyed. This is the pathophysiological equivalent of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. Consequently, fragments of erythrocytes, so-called schistocytes, may be detected in blood samples.

Mutations described in the previous paragraphs merely predispose for aHUS, and additional triggers are assumed to be necessary for the induction of an aHUS crisis. Under physiological conditions, the body is able to compensate for certain complement disorders, and only when confronted with pathogens, determined drugs or other challenges do these disorders manifest. Thus, aHUS follows a course of remission and relapse.

No specific measures can be recommended to prevent aHUS. Because gene defects associated with aHUS merely predispose for the disease, which may or may not be triggered by as-of-yet unknown factors, the benefit of genetic screens of family members of affected individuals is questionable.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is the chosen designation for the symptom triad of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and acute renal failure [1] and it has first been described by the Swiss pediatrician Conrad von Gasser and colleagues in 1955 [2]. Indeed, it is primarily diagnosed in pediatric patients, especially in young children aged less than five years. Nevertheless, it may affect patients of any age. The vast majority of cases is attributed to an infection with enterohemorrhagic, Shiga-like toxin-producing serotypes of Escherichia coli (i.e., serotype O157:H7 and, less prevalent, non-O157:H7 serotypes). Additionally, HUS may develop secondary to infection with Shigella dysenteriae, Citrobacter spp. and Streptococcus pneumoniae, among others [1]. HUS is associated with an acute mortality rate of 5% in children and frequent long-term sequelae with possible progression to end-stage renal disease [3] [4].

Cases that cannot be related to an infectious agent are deemed atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). aHUS accounts for less than 10% of all cases diagnosed in pediatric patients, whereas adults diagnosed with HUS are more likely to suffer from the atypical form of the disease [5]. Distinct hypotheses regarding the disease' etiology have been proposed so far, with the theory of aHUS resulting from inherited complement disorders being the one most widely accepted. aHUS is a life-threatening condition ,often with a poor outcome; depending on the precise cause of aHUS. Roughly 38 to 73% develop end-stage renal disease within five years [3]. Mortality exceeds numbers reported for HUS patients and according to older literature, acute and overall mortality approaches 15 and 25%, respectively [6]. Patients remain at high risk for disease recurrence even after kidney transplantation.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) refers to the symptom triad of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and acute kidney injury, i.e., HUS patients suffer from low levels of hemoglobin, lack of platelets and renal impairment. Their general condition is reduced, they suffer from fatigue, tachycardia and palpitations, are prone to spontaneous bleeding and renal failure. Their damaged kidneys lose protein and are unable to maintain normal blood pressure. Thus, HUS patients develop edema and hypertension.

In most cases, HUS manifests after an infection with determined serotypes of Escherichia coli, with Shigella dysenteriae, Citrobacter spp. or Streptococcus pneumoniae. Less than 10% of all cases cannot be associated with such an infection and are thus deemed atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). aHUS is often related to gene defects.

It is of utmost importance to diagnose aHUS during early stages of the disease in order to initiate therapy as soon as possible. This way, the risk of end-stage renal disease, renal failure and death may be reduced. Treatment options comprise plasma exchange, drug therapy and liver and kidney transplantation.

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