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Updated: May 10, 2026

Methods for Quantitative Detection of Antibody-induced Complement Activation on Red Blood Cells
Published on: January 29, 2014
Complement therapy in atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS)
Edwin K S Wong1, Tim H J Goodship, David Kavanagh
1The Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Abstract:
Central to the pathogenesis of atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS) is over-activation of the alternative pathway of complement. Inherited defects in complement genes and autoantibodies against complement regulatory proteins have been described. The use of plasma exchange to replace non-functioning complement regulators and hyper-functional complement components in addition to the removal of CFH-autoantibodies made this the 'gold-standard' for management of aHUS. In the last 4 years the introduction of the complement inhibitor Eculizumab has revolutionised the management of aHUS. In this review we shall discuss the available literature on treatment strategies to date.
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