Common Causes Of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

Genetics

A rare type of hemolytic uremic syndrome referred to as atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome can affect an individual who has inherited a certain type of genetic mutation from their parents. Not everyone who has the gene from their parents develops atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. However, a chronic health condition, certain infection, or the use of certain medications can be a trigger for the mutated gene to become activated and induce hemolytic uremic syndrome. Only three percent of all cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome are the result of inherited genetic mutations and are referred to as familial hemolytic uremic syndrome. Children affected by this form of hemolytic uremic syndrome inherit the genetic mutation in an autosomal recessive fashion, and adults who are affected inherit the mutation in an autosomal dominant fashion. The genetic mutation that causes familial hemolytic uremic syndrome is thought to be an abnormality in an individual's complement regulatory proteins. These complement regulatory proteins include factor H, factor I, C3, factor B, and CD46.