Where are we with haemolytic uremic syndrome?

Haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is characterised by microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia with acute kidney injury. It is currently classified into two main categories: Shiga-toxin producing E. coli-hemolytic uremic syndrome (STEC-HUS) and atypical haemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). Endothelial cell damage is the common pathway in HUS to developing thrombotic microangiopathy. Atypical HUS includes primary, secondary and aHUS due to metabolic diseases. In the majority of aHUS cases, hyperactivity of the alternative complement pathway plays a central role. Therefore, treatment is based on complement inhibitors like eculizumab, a drug that has revolutionised the natural history of the disease. Relapses are frequent after kidney transplant and thus confer a poor prognosis.