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Treatment with plasma exchange (PEX) was safe, restored kidney function and led to no requirement of dialysis at three months in most children with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), according to research from India. The study, “Membrane-filtration based plasma exchanges for atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome: Audit…

People with rare diseases know that the right government policies can make a big difference in the quality of their own lives, and those of their caregivers. But most lawmakers aren’t experts in even one well-known disease — let alone the world’s estimated 7,000 rare disorders. So how does the…

A novel genetic variant of the CFH gene, which encodes an important protein from the immune complement system, was linked to the development of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) in a German woman. Her case was reported in a study, “…

In some patients, atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) may be associated with heart disease, a case report study highlights. The case report study, “Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Presenting as Acute Heart Failure — A Rare Presentation: Diagnosis Supported by Skin Biopsy,” was published in the Journal…

RaDaR, the catchy new name for the U.S. government-run Rare Diseases Registry Program, aims to help patient advocacy groups with limited resources build their own disease registries. The site was developed by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), a division of the National Institutes of…

Rapid drug desensitization may allow patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) to continue treatment with Soliris (eculizumab), following a medicine-induced allergic reaction, a case report says. The study, “Eculizumab hypersensitivity and desensitization in a toddler with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome,” was published in The…

With 250 rare diseases newly identified every year, scientists can barely keep up — even as the healthcare system fails millions of Americans whose rare diseases have already been diagnosed. That’s the warning from Christopher P. Austin, MD, director of the National Center for Advancing Translational Studies(NCATS) at the…

Rare genetic variants in complement genes have been associated with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) linked with anti-factor H autoantibodies (anti-FHs), recent research shows. Moreover, the study adds evidence that common infections contribute to this type of aHUS in genetically predisposed individuals. These observations explain why there is a…

Cumbersome security procedures, rising airfares, and shrinking legroom have made commercial air travel difficult enough these days — even for healthy passengers. Imagine how much harder it is for patients with rare diseases who must get to doctors’ appointments or clinical trials that are hundreds of miles away from home.

Soliris (eculizumab) rapidly improved renal function that had been compromised by clotting of small blood vessels in patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), researchers report. The study with that finding, “Outcomes in patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome treated with eculizumab in a long-term observational study,” was…