C3 glomerulopathy and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome: an updated review of the literature on alternative complement pathway disorders

The complement system plays a significant role within the pathological process of C3 glomerulopathy (C3GP) and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). In daily practice, clinicians should differentiate the subgroups of C3GP because of they should apply different treatment modalities. In the past, C3GP was considered as a part of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN). MPGN is defined as glomerular capillary thickening secondary to the synthesis of the new glomerular basement membrane and mesangial cellular hyperplasia with mesangial matrix expansion. Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome is an ultra-rare disease that can be outlined by the triad of Coombs negative microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury. Recent advances demonstrated that these diseases share common abnormalities of the control of the alternative complement system. Therefore, nowadays, most researchers advocate that there may be overlap in the pathogenesis of C3GP and aHUS. This review will provide recent novel mechanisms and treatment options in these diseases. For the purposes that we mentioned above and to help clinicians, we aimed to describe the etiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of C3GP and aHUS in this comprehensive review.

Automated summary

The complement system is crucial in the pathogenesis of C3 glomerulopathy (C3GP) and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), with recent research suggesting common abnormalities in the control of the alternative complement system between the two diseases. This overlap may impact treatment strategies for both conditions.