Abstract
Background The present paper examines the correlations between coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) from a clinical and pathophysiological point of view. Method: We describe COVID-19 and HUS by outlining the similarities and differences, detailing each one's pathway into the body, explaining the consequences of the inflammatory response, mainly on multiple organ dysfunction, the foremost complication that can lead to death in both cases. Using reviews from specialized literature and guidelines, we had an approach based on critical interpretive synthesis. Nonetheless, the present article has certain limitations, mainly due to the short period from the emergence of the virus and the everincreasing body of research that have been shedding light each day. Discussion: Both COVID-19 and HUS require binding to a membrane receptor to trigger the pathophysiological mechanism. Despite the evident difference in tropism, both conditions develop with severe endothelial dysfunction, microangiopathy and important inflammatory response, responsible for MODS. The role of the coagulation pathway is more significant in COVID-19 but less in HUS. Excessive complement activation appears to be a determinant of severe prognosis in both diseases. Regarding COVID-19, children have a milder symptomatology than adults, but in some cases the paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS) is described.