It’s largely wishful thinking that an illness can become ‘extinct’ across the human population, as evidenced by the resurgence of diseases like polio and the mumps. Smallpox, a highly contagious and lethal virus, is one of the two diseases declared by the World Health Organization to be eradicated across the globe. Too bad we can’t say the same for Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Certain populations may be more apt to experience serious complications with COVID, such as people who are immunocompromised or those with underlying health conditions. It’s easy to understand how families affected by atypical HUS have heightened health concerns during ‘cold season’ when a trip to the grocery store or wave of illness hits their school or workplace. What might be an unwelcome surprise to some is that medical literature includes some case studies where Coronavirus infections have triggered aHUS activity, and the same is true for COVID vaccinations. Like other groups with pre-existing medical conditions, we’ve wondered about the potential for ‘long COVID’ to echo in terms of aHUS health concerns. Thankfully, the vast majority of aHUS patients have weathered these situations well.
Did you know that the aHUS Alliance Global Action team maintains a COVID-specific aHUS resource page, offers multiple website articles, and has compiled much research (e.g. triggers, case studies) specific to COVID and atypical HUS? Here’s an example of a very recent publication (see their Table 1):
Ando et al. Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome with a C3 variant following COVID-19: a case report Front. Pediatr., 22 January 2025. doi.org/10.3389/fped.2025.1507727
Another recent example:
Yang et al. Severe pregnancy-associated atypical hemolytic uremia syndrome in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: a novel survival case report. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2025 Jan 30;25:93. doi: 10.1186/s12884-025-07212-z
Since the start of the pandemic, we’ve offered original articles on COVID topics in the news and have continued our Resource Page: aHUS & COVID which contain a sampling of key items available on our website. From ‘Long COVID’ to vaccination issues, our articles are fact-based and viewed from the aHUS patient vantage point. We invite you to utilize our website’s Search Bar at the top, where you’ll find these and so much more information:
COVID Infection: Vaccination and aHUS (Aug 2024)
Could there be a LONG aHUS like LONG COVID? (Nov 2023)
Micro Clots in ‘Long aHUS’ and COVID (July 2023)
COVID as an aHUS Trigger (early case studies overview, March 2022)
Visit the Atypical HUS Coronavirus Resource Page
(last update: Jan 2025)
https://bit.ly/aHUSandCOVID19info
