Cryptic activity of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome and eculizumab treatment

Pediatrics. 2014 Jun;133(6):e1769-71. doi: 10.1542/peds.2013-2921. Epub 2014 May 19.

Abstract

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare, life-threatening disease often related to uncontrolled complement activation. The use of eculizumab has changed the management and the outcome of aHUS, becoming the frontline treatment of the acute disease and for the prevention of relapses. We report the case of a male patient with aHUS due to complement factor H gene mutation who was shifted from plasmatherapy to eculizumab for preventing disease relapses. The shift to eculizumab was associated with a significant decrease in proteinuria, revealing disease activity otherwise unsuspected, being the classic criteria of disease activity (platelet, haptoglobin, LDH, schistocytes), all in the normal range.The condition of proteinuria as the only sign of thrombotic microangiopathy activity is here designated as "cryptic activity of aHUS."

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01522183.

Keywords: end-stage renal disease; hemolitic uremic syndrome; proteinuria.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Complement Activation / drug effects
  • Complement Factor H / genetics*
  • Complement Factor H / immunology*
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Haptoglobins / metabolism
  • Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / genetics
  • Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / immunology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Kidney Function Tests
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / blood
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Plasma
  • Plasmapheresis
  • Platelet Count
  • Proteinuria / diagnosis*
  • Proteinuria / drug therapy*
  • Proteinuria / genetics
  • Proteinuria / immunology
  • Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / diagnosis
  • Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / drug therapy
  • Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / genetics
  • Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / immunology
  • Secondary Prevention

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Biomarkers
  • Haptoglobins
  • Complement Factor H
  • eculizumab
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01522183