Complement Factor I Gene Variant in an Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Triggered by Hypereosinophilia Syndrome

Abstract

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a condition characterized by acute kidney injury (AKI), thrombocytopenia, and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia secondary to complement pathway dysregulation. Several triggers have been identified as causing aHUS in genetically susceptible patients; however, hypereosinophilia syndrome (HES)-triggered aHUS has not been reported. In this article, we present a case of aHUS presented with generalized urticarial rashes and angioedema. The initial investigations revealed hypereosinophilia (maximal absolute eosinophil count of 6,840 cells/µL) with normal bone-marrow analyses; hence, idiopathic HES was diagnosed. During hospitalization, the patient developed convulsion, stuporous, and full-blown thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), with AKI requiring temporary hemodialysis. A kidney biopsy confirmed the existence of renal TMA. Next-generation sequencing of the coding regions of aHUS-related genes was performed, revealing an underlying complement factor I (CFI) deficiency, a heterozygous variant p.P64L of CFI gene. The patient was successfully treated with high-dose steroids and extended duration of plasmapheresis.

Keywords: Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome; Complement factor I; Hypereosinophilic syndrome; p.P64L mutation.