Does hemolytic uremic syndrome differ from thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura?

The difficulties that are inherent in the differential diagnosis of hemolytic uremic syndrome and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura are a function of the overlap in presenting features. The authors of this Review assert that patient management could be more usefully directed by basing diagnosis on recently elucidated pathogenic mechanisms. To that end, they discuss the involvement of deficiencies in metalloprotease ADAMTS13, and dysfunctional complement proteins.