Atypical Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome in the New England Journal of Medicine

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Every physician has diseases they see improbably often. For me, one of these conditions is hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Since writing one of my first papers on HUS as a resident — "De novo thrombotic microangiopathy in renal transplant recipients" — I've seen way more of it than you'd expect.

For kidney fans, this review article on atypical hemolytic-uremic syndrome in this month's New England Journal of Medicine (subscription required) is a must read. It details recent advances in the genetics of atypical hemolytic-uremic syndrome. What was previously a confusing mess of similar-appearing diseases — hemolytic-uremic syndrome, atypical hemolytic-uremic syndrome, drug-induced hemolytic-uremic syndrome, and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura — may finally be understandable.

Related: A List of Kidney Diseases