News

Severe tick-borne infection leads to aHUS in woman: Case report

A woman in her 60s developed atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) as a result of severe babesiosis, a tick-borne parasitic infection, according to a recent U.S. case report. Babesiosis is caused by a parasite that infects red blood cells. The disease is transmitted from the bite of an infected tick…

FDA approves Bkemv, biosimilar of Soliris, to treat aHUS

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Bkemv (eculizumab-aeeb), the first interchangeable biosimilar to Soliris (eculizumab), to treat people with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). A biosimilar is a medication highly similar to a reference biologic — a medication made from natural, living sources like bacteria —…

Case report describes aHUS diagnosis of pregnant woman

Researchers in Mexico described the series of events that led to a diagnosis of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) in a 22-year-old pregnant woman. The case highlights the need for vigilance, as well as prompt diagnosis and treatment, they said. The report, “Pregnancy-associated atypical hemolytic uremic…

NORD welcomes advance in US Congress of key rare disease legislation

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) welcomes the advancement, by the U.S. House of Representative’s Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, of “critical” bills that encourage rare disease therapy development and improve patient access to care. The nonprofit organization, which supports rare disease patients through advocacy, research funding, education,…

aHUS disease in adolescence linked to permanent kidney function loss in study

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) starting during adolescence is associated with more permanent and severe kidney dysfunction when compared with infantile-onset disease, a study from Turkey reported. “In the long term, adolescents may have significant permanent loss of [kidney] functions and higher [end-stage kidney disease] rates,” the researchers wrote.