scholarly journals Use of Highly Individualized Complement Blockade Has Revolutionized Clinical Outcomes after Kidney Transplantation and Renal Epidemiology of Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 2449-2463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julien Zuber ◽  
Marie Frimat ◽  
Sophie Caillard ◽  
Nassim Kamar ◽  
Philippe Gatault ◽  
...  

BackgroundAtypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is associated with high recurrence rates after kidney transplant, with devastating outcomes. In late 2011, experts in France recommended the use of highly individualized complement blockade–based prophylaxis with eculizumab to prevent post-transplant atypical HUS recurrence throughout the country.MethodsTo evaluate this strategy’s effect on kidney transplant prognosis, we conducted a retrospective multicenter study from a large French nationwide registry, enrolling all adult patients with atypical HUS who had undergone complement analysis and a kidney transplant since January 1, 2007. To assess how atypical HUS epidemiology in France in the eculizumab era evolved, we undertook a population-based cohort study that included all adult patients with atypical HUS (n=397) between 2007 and 2016.ResultsThe first study included 126 kidney transplants performed in 116 patients, 58.7% and 34.1% of which were considered to be at a high and moderate risk of atypical HUS recurrence, respectively. Eculizumab prophylaxis was used in 52 kidney transplants, including 39 at high risk of recurrence. Atypical HUS recurred after 43 (34.1%) of the transplants; in four cases, patients had received eculizumab prophylaxis and in 39 cases they did not. Use of prophylactic eculizumab was independently associated with a significantly reduced risk of recurrence and with significantly longer graft survival. In the second, population-based cohort study, the proportion of transplant recipients among patients with ESKD and atypical HUS sharply increased between 2012 and 2016, from 46.2% to 72.3%, and showed a close correlation with increasing eculizumab use among the transplant recipients.ConclusionsResults from this observational study are consistent with benefit from eculizumab prophylaxis based on pretransplant risk stratification and support the need for a rigorous randomized trial.

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander G. Raufi ◽  
Shruti Scott ◽  
Omar Darwish ◽  
Kevin Harley ◽  
Kanwarpal Kahlon ◽  
...  

Among the spectrum of disease manifestations associated with systemic lupus erythematosus, lupus nephritis is particularly concerning due to the potential for renal failure. This autoimmune attack may not, however, be limited to the kidney and is increasingly being recognized as a trigger for atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS). Atypical HUS falls under the spectrum of the thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs) – a group of disorders characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and end organ damage. Although plasma exchange is considered first-line therapy for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura – a TMA classically associated with autoimmune depletion of ADAMTS-13 – aHUS demonstrates less reliable responsiveness to this modality. Instead, use of the late complement inhibitor Eculizumab has emerged as an effective modality for the management of such patients. Diagnosis of aHUS, however, is largely clinically based, relying heavily upon a multidisciplinary approach. Herein we present the case of a patient with atypical HUS successfully treated with Eculizumab in the setting of Class IV-G (A) lupus nephritis and hypocomplementemia.


Author(s):  
Cristina Casas González ◽  
Verónica López-Jiménez ◽  
Teresa Vázquez-Sánchez ◽  
Elena Vázquez-Sánchez ◽  
Mercedes Cabello ◽  
...  

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 3159-3159
Author(s):  
Fnu Amisha ◽  
Manojna Konda ◽  
Paras Malik ◽  
Arya Mariam Roy ◽  
Appalanaidu Sasapu

Abstract Background Atypical HUS (aHUS) is a rare thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) caused by complement dysregulation. Eculizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting against complement factor C5. Ravulizumab, a longer acting C5 inhibitor developed through minimal, targeted modifications to eculizumab was recently approved for treatment of aHUS in 2019. Here we describe the clinical presentation, laboratory, genetic profile, treatment along with long-term sequelae of patients diagnosed with aHUS. The outcomes of restrictive use of eculizumab and the use of ravulizumab were also studied. Materials and Methods We conducted a single center retrospective cohort study, searching electronic medical records of patients diagnosed and treated for aHUS at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, from January 1, 2013 to January 31, 2021, after IRB approval. Inclusion criteria :1) Presence of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) with thrombocytopenia 2) ADAMTS13 activity > 10 % 3) Age > 18. Exclusion criteria: 1) Age < 18 years 2) TMA associated with hemolytic uremic syndrome, scleroderma renal crises, anti-phospholipid syndrome. Results Seventeen patients meeting the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study. The mean age at diagnosis was 47.4 ± 17.9 years. Most of the patients were Caucasians (n=10, 58%) and females (n= 14, 82%). All the patients except one had acute kidney injury (AKI) at presentation (n=16, 94.1%), the most frequent extra-renal presentation was CNS involvement -seizures, confusion and altered mental status (n= 7, 41.2 %) followed by Gastrointestinal- non-bloody diarrhea, nausea and vomiting (n=5, 29.4 %) [Figure 1]. Lab investigations are described in [Table 1]. Complement genetic testing was done in 100% of study population. Factor H related genes 1/3 (CFHR1/3) and complement factor H (CFH) were the most commonly found pathogenic mutations [Table 2]. In this study, pregnancy and infection (n= 4, 23.5% each) were identified as the most common triggers [Figure 2]. For two of the patients, it was the first pregnancy and for the other two, it was their second and third pregnancies. They presented at the second, sixth, and sixteenth week postpartum respectively. Eleven (64.70%) patients developed chronic kidney disease (CKD) with six (35.29%) patients progressing to end stage renal disease (ESRD). Two (11.76 %) pregnant patients developed cardiomyopathy, two (11.76%) patients developed pulmonary complications (pneumonia and pulmonary hypertension) and three (17.64%) patients developed epilepsy. All the postpartum females in our study were able to breastfeed while on eculizumab with no long-term complications in the neonates. One patient had two subsequent deliveries with no ante, intra, or post-partum consequences or repeated triggers of aHUS. Fourteen patients (82.3%) received therapeutic plasma exchange, four (23.5%) patients received iv methyl prednisone (1mg/kg) and two (11.7%) patients received IVIg prior to initiating eculizumab. Over time, five (29.41%) patients opted to completely stop drug therapy and four patients (23.52%) chose to shift to ravulizumab because of the ease of treatment duration (every 8 weeks rather than every 2 weeks for eculizumab). All these nine patients remained in remission with stable hematologic and renal parameters on subsequent follow-ups [Table 3]. Three patients (17.6 % mortality) died in our study due to causes unrelated to aHUS. Conclusions: The clinical diagnosis of atypical HUS can be challenging especially with extra-renal manifestations. Females were four times more affected than males. PCMs were present in 11 patients. Early diagnosis and treatment with C5 inhibitors improves morbidity and mortality. The decision to discontinue or switch eculizumab to ravulizumab will likely decrease healthcare costs and improve patient compliance but should be based on disease severity. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


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