Case Report: COVID-19 unmasks factor H mutation-driven hemolytic uremic syndrome in a previously undiagnosed septuagenarian kidney transplant recipient

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) after kidney transplantation presents a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Complement-mediated thrombotic microangiopathy (CM-TMA), caused by dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway, is frequently associated with predisposing variants in complement-regulatory genes but typically requires additional triggers for clinical manifestation. Ravulizumab, a long-acting terminal complement inhibitor, has demonstrated efficacy in native kidney disease, but data in transplant recipients remain limited. We present a 75-year-old kidney transplant recipient in whom previously unrecognized CM-TMA was triggered by COVID-19 infection and successfully treated with ravulizumab. This case underscores the importance of considering CM-TMA in the differential diagnosis of posttransplant TMA and in patients with end-stage kidney disease of uncertain origin, demonstrating that age alone should not preclude diagnostic consideration, and supports ravulizumab as an effective therapeutic option in this setting.

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Publication Details

Journal
Frontiers in Medicine
Published
2026-03-31
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2026.1702864
Primary Topic
Complement system in diseases
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Case Report: COVID-19 unmasks factor H mutation-driven hemolytic uremic syndrome in a previously undiagnosed septuagenarian kidney transplant recipient

Alexander H. Kirsch, Marion J. Pollheimer, Alexander R. Rosenkranz, K. Eller et al.
Frontiers in Medicine
Complement system in diseases
article

Case Report: COVID-19 unmasks factor H mutation-driven hemolytic uremic syndrome in a previously undiagnosed septuagenarian kidney transplant recipient

Alexander H. Kirsch, Marion J. Pollheimer, Alexander R. Rosenkranz, K. Eller, Max Schüller, Michael Fink
article en

Abstract

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) after kidney transplantation presents a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Complement-mediated thrombotic microangiopathy (CM-TMA), caused by dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway, is frequently associated with predisposing variants in complement-regulatory genes but typically requires additional triggers for clinical manifestation. Ravulizumab, a long-acting terminal complement inhibitor, has demonstrated efficacy in native kidney disease, but data in transplant recipients remain limited. We present a 75-year-old kidney transplant recipient in whom previously unrecognized CM-TMA was triggered by COVID-19 infection and successfully treated with ravulizumab. This case underscores the importance of considering CM-TMA in the differential diagnosis of posttransplant TMA and in patients with end-stage kidney disease of uncertain origin, demonstrating that age alone should not preclude diagnostic consideration, and supports ravulizumab as an effective therapeutic option in this setting.

Frontiers in MedicineVol. 13
Medical University of Graz (AT)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 26%
Complement system in diseases
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