Successful management of obstructive jaundice due to gallstones with eculizumab in a patient with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

Intern Med. 2012;51(18):2613-6. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.51.8202. Epub 2012 Sep 15.

Abstract

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) makes patients susceptible to intravascular hemolysis and thrombosis, and it can be life-threatening in stressful situations. Eculizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits the complement protein C5, has been evaluated as a novel therapy for PNH. We herein describe the case of a 59-year-old Japanese woman with classic PNH, who had been successfully treated with eculizumab, but who later developed acute cholecystitis/cholangitis from gallstones. Although the severe obstructive jaundice requiring endoscopic therapy following cholecystectomy was complicated, critical intravascular hemolysis and thrombosis were not observed. Therefore, utilizing eculizumab during the peri-operative management of PNH patients should be carefully taken into consideration.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Cholecystectomy
  • Disease Management*
  • Endoscopy
  • Female
  • Gallstones / complications*
  • Gallstones / surgery*
  • Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Jaundice, Obstructive / etiology*
  • Jaundice, Obstructive / surgery*
  • Middle Aged
  • Perioperative Period

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • eculizumab