Effect of eculizumab and recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin combination therapy in a 7-year-old girl with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome due to anti-factor H autoantibodies.

Abstract

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), which is defined as non-Shiga toxin-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome, is a type of thrombotic microangiopathy. This syndrome presents with hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury. Excessive complement activation due to genetic disorders of the complement system or production of autoantibodies to factor H (FH) causes the disease. We report a successful treatment course using eculizumab and recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (rTMD) for a 7-year-old girl with aHUS due to anti-FH autoantibodies. Although her chief complaints were abdominal pain and loose stools, we were finally able to diagnose her with aHUS because Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli was not detected in her feces and a hemolytic assay analyzing FH function was positive. We administrated rTMD to our patient because of signs of disseminated intravascular coagulation. Soon after the therapeutic intervention, the platelet count began to increase and abdominal pain was moderately improved. Plasma exchange limited the efficacy of her disease. Therefore, we administered eculizumab, monoclonal humanized antibody against C5, 3weeks after admission. Platelet counts immediately increased and kidney function gradually recovered. Genetic disorders were not detected. However, anti-FH autoantibody was observed. There were no symptoms for recurrence of aHUS or kidney dysfunction for 15months, as a result of the administration of eculizumab every other week. In conclusion, combination therapy of eculizumab and rTMD was effective for an aHUS patient. This therapy may be helpful for improving the prognosis and long-term kidney function of aHUS patients.