Pregnancy in Women with Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

Nephron. 2022;146(1):1-10. doi: 10.1159/000518171. Epub 2021 Sep 7.

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy outcomes in patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) are not well-documented. Here, we present characteristics of and outcomes for patients with aHUS who became pregnant while enrolled in the Global aHUS Registry.

Methods: The observational Global aHUS Registry (NCT01522183), initiated in April 2012, collects demographics, disease history, treatment, and outcomes data for patients with aHUS, regardless of treatment approach. This descriptive analysis includes patients from the Registry with evaluable pregnancy data supplemented with pharmacovigilance information; the number of pregnancies, outcomes, and exposure to eculizumab were evaluated.

Results: As of April 1, 2019, 44 pregnancies were recorded in 41 patients, with 24 pregnancies exposed to eculizumab. Pathogenic variants were identified in 48.8% of patients. Three patients were on dialysis and 6 patients had a kidney graft at the time of pregnancy. Excluding elective terminations, 85.3% of pregnancies resulted in live births. Elective terminations were recorded in 22.7% of pregnancies, miscarriages occurred in 9.1% of pregnancies, and late fetal death in 2.3% of pregnancies. No malformations or anomalies were reported.

Conclusions: Our results show that in women with aHUS, even on dialysis or with a kidney graft, pregnancy is possible with careful monitoring for aHUS flares and prematurity. Prophylactic or therapeutic eculizumab offers disease control with low-risk of fetal abnormalities.

Keywords: Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome; Eculizumab; Pregnancy; Real-world evidence; Registry.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome / complications*
  • Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome / genetics
  • Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pharmacovigilance
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications*
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Renal Dialysis