Seeking aHUS genetic knowledge

aHUS patients get to know that rare changes in their genetic make up , make them susceptible to their condition.

Decades ago it was thought there was something about Complement components that made aHUS patients different and at risk of this disease.

It was just over 20 years ago that the first genetic mutation was found in complement in Factor H and in one small part of it , in doctors’ speak,  “SCR20”, and the mutated version was called in very clever doctors’ speak

 c.3643C>G; p. Arg1215Gly

Since then hundreds of mutations have been found not only  in Complement Factor H, but also in other Complement components like CFI, CFB C3 etc.

One of the most comprehensive lists of complement component mutations/variants  in the world is held by the University College of London. See previous alliance article. https://ahusallianceaction.org/a-well-of-ahus-mutations/

One thing that is clear from looking at the list of mutations/variants  is that  many of the CFH mutations/variants do not play a significant disease causing role in aHUS.  The might occasionally do so  in other complement diseases like AMD or MPGN, but not aHUS.

When a new aHUS patient on sets, and is diagnosed,  it remains  important to know if the patient has a complement mutation/variant, which had predisposed them to aHUS. Having that information is important for prognosis ( expected outcome)  and the management of treatment going forward. If one is found it confirms diagnosis; but it was not essential to know about it before starting treatment.

For  some patients who are tested for all the “known”  mutations/variants ,  none can be found, not even newly created ones, and those patients are said to be idiopathic – spontaneous and with no known genetic cause. They may have a genetic cause, but it cannot be found in tests.

Remember two of the questions in the Rare Disease Day video 2017  were from patients in just that position

Maely’s  mother  from France asked “My daughter is part of the 30% with no known mutation , will we ever know her mutation so her doctors can know what her best treatment is?”

Martiniano’s mother  from Argentine asked ” Martiniano  does not have a known mutation and he is transplanted and receives eculizumab every 15 days  but he is a completely happy child, can we ever get to know all the mutations of aHUS?”

Even without knowing the actual mutation being part of the idiopathic group might in itself give doctors some idea of what happens to such patients from any research which investigates and reports on this particular cohort.

For some however , the issue is about getting access to genetic testing to know whether or not they have a genetic predisposition.

Yara of Joao Pessoa Brazil asks ” When will they begin to do genetic testing mapping of our children to find out if they will have SHUa( aHUS) or not?”

It could be argued that , when it comes to aHUS treatment, not funding testing for genetic causes is false economy as it  may lead to ineffective use of health resources.

Genetics is a very important part of the aHUS Research Agenda.

• Knowing if there is a genetic fault does not prevent an aHUS diagnosis, nor commencing treatment
• There are many combinations of genetic codes and one alteration can cause a new mutation/variant
• The mutation/variant has to be significant and rare to be of interest for aHUS
• Not all mutations/variants are aHUS disease causing
• No mutation/variant  will be found in between 25 to 50% of patients tested for aHUS known mutations/variants.
• Having genetic test results helps with management of the diseases and decisions that need to be made
• Not having genetic tests  is false economy for healthcare providers

For those in families where aHUS has happened, others in the family may onset but some will not. They may face the choice on whether parents or siblings or children /grandchildren and wider family members should be tested .

It is the dilemma facing aHUS family members “What is  better to know about susceptibility or not” ?

Featured image of genetic testing machine in use in a hospital in Milan, Italy