Abstract

Objective. To study the risk factors for transformation of pre-eclampsia (PE) into atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). Patients and methods. The study included 102 patients with PE, who were divided into two groups. The main group consisted of 59 women with PE and aHUS in the early postpartum period. In the comparison group, there were 43 patients who previously had severe PE, which was not complicated by the development of aHUS. Results. The complications associated with severe PE such as hemorrhage (76.3% vs 48.8%, p = 0.004), placental abruption (33.9% vs 6.9%, p = 0.001), and intrauterine fetal demise (32.2% vs 6.9%, p = 0.002) were significantly more frequent in patients with aHUS compared with the control group. Most of these complications occurred in patients in whom PE lasted more than one week. Also, patients with aHUS had significantly more severe microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (hemoglobin 61.0 [52.5; 73.5] g/L vs 88.0 [73.0; 104.0] g/L, p < 0.001, lactate dehydrogenase 2846.0 [1340.5; 5037.5] IU/L vs 801.0 [497.0; 1269.0] IU/L, p < 0.001), thrombocytopenia (49.5 [31.0; 71.5] K/μL vs 67.0 [43.0; 108.0] K/μL, p = 0.002), hypercreatininemia (424.5 [281.0; 605.0] μmol/L vs 99.0 [86.0; 134.0] μmol/L, p < 0.001) and more severe multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (average number of organ failures – 3.58 vs 1.88, p < 0.001). Among patients with aHUS, complete recovery of renal function was achieved in 42 (71.2%) of 59 women, 9 (15.2%) of 59 women remained on hemodialysis, 8 (13.6%) of 59 women died. In the comparison group, all women showed positive dynamics within 72 hours after childbirth with normalization of all clinical and laboratory parameters. Conclusion. PE itself is a risk factor for the development of aHUS, and patients with severe PE should be considered at high risk for thrombotic microangiopathy. Prolongation of pregnancy in patients with PE increases the risk of developing aHUS by 5 times. Key words: pre-eclampsia, pregnancy-associated atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, pregnancy, thrombotic microangiopathy, eculizumab

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