Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome in a cancer patient at the Dr. Julio Villacreses Colmont hospital: Analysis of a clinical case

Abstract

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare life-threatening disease known as a microvascular occlusive disorder; is a systemic thrombotic microangiopathy due to altered regulation of the alternate pathway of the complement system. We present the clinical case of an 83-year-old patient with a history of Prostate Cancer, treated with complete hormonal blockade; and multiresistant Acinetobacter baumannii in urine, triggering complement system dysregulation with symptoms of non-autoimmune microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure with anuria, requiring hemodialysis, leading to the diagnosis of aHUS. During his hospitalization in the emergency room and intensive care unit, support treatment was established with plasmapheresis and packed red blood cells, but due to the rapid evolution of the disease and multiple organ failure, the patient died a few days after the onset of the clinical picture. Due to the complexity and rapid clinical evolution of this pathology in the short term, it is limited to have specific treatment such as Eculizumab, with the purpose of improving the prognosis and survival of the patient's life. Early diagnosis and timely treatment are of great importance to reduce mortality in patients with aHUS.