Multidisciplinary consensus on the diagnosis and management of patients with atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (complement-mediated TMA): Recommendations from Italian scientific societies, patient associations and regulators

Abstract

Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS) is a severe, systemic, rare disease (RD) that can occur in people of all ages, and is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Because the management of patients with aHUS can be difficult, more effective strategies should be implemented. Faculty members from several Italian Scientific Societies, Patient Associations and Regional Institutional Experts on RDs met to discuss aHUS management within a multidisciplinary team (MDT), using a Delphi process to develop consensus recommendations. Consensus (≥70 % agreement by faculty members) was reached on 51 statements with the aim of improving patient management and outcomes. These statements provide a unified framework for the differential diagnosis of aHUS, prompt recognition of the pathology, referral to RD reference centers, selecting between treatment relapse prevention measures options, patient management by a MDT and improving the overall awareness of aHUS. Despite the broad scope of the consensus statements, several unmet needs in the management of patients with aHUS were identified, including diagnostic suspicion, rapid genetic investigations, regular review of the centers of expertise (considering the number of treated patients), permanent clinical referral in treatment centers and widespread expertise among adult and pediatric specialists. We hope that this standardized framework will form the basis of the "digital ecosystem" concept and development of possible information technology solutions to assist the MDT involved in the management of patients with aHUS.

Keywords: Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome; Delphi consensus; Multidisciplinary care; Patient-centered approach.