Long-term Eculizumab Treatment Contributes to Recovery from End-stage Renal Disease Caused by Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

Intern Med. 2017;56(9):1085-1088. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.56.7862. Epub 2017 May 1.

Abstract

We experienced a favorable outcome in an adult case of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) after long-term eculizumab treatment. A 38-year-old Japanese man with a history of central retinal vein occlusion was admitted to our hospital with progressive dyspnea. He was found to have non-immune hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute renal failure two weeks after an episode of the common cold. Plasma exchange was ineffective; therefore, we initiated eculizumab after we excluded other thrombotic microangiopathies. Although long-term peritoneal dialysis was required, we successfully discontinued dialysis 18 months after the onset of aHUS with eculizumab.

Keywords: atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome; eculizumab; peritoneal dialysis; thrombotic microangiopathy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Asian People
  • Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / etiology*
  • Male
  • Thrombotic Microangiopathies / diet therapy*
  • Thrombotic Microangiopathies / etiology*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • eculizumab