Compound Haplotype Variants in CFH and CD46 Genes Determine Clinical Outcome of Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS)—A Series of Cases from a Single Family

Abstract

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare disease triggered by dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway, consisting of a characteristic triad of nonimmune hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and renal failure. The risk of aHUS onset, recurrence, and allograft loss depends on the genetic background of a patient. We show a series of cases from a single family whose five members were affected by aHUS and presented distinct clinical outcomes. Next-generation sequencing revealed combined mutations in both complement factor H and membrane cofactor protein CD46. Out of eight siblings, aHUS affected three adult brothers, and, subsequently, affected two children of an unaffected sister. The first patient died due to aHUS, and two other brothers underwent successful kidney transplantation with no aHUS recurrence. The younger, 10-month-old child presented with a severe course of the disease with cardiac involvement and persistent hemolytic anemia limited by eculizumab, while the 2-year-old recovered completely on eculizumab. The study shows a highly variable disease penetrance.