Renal Transplantation in Patients With Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome: A Single Center Experience.

PURPOSE

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is characterized by microangiopathic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury. HUS is mostly associated with diarrhea (90%). However, 10% of cases are not associated with diarrhea and are thus called as atypical HUS (aHUS); these cases are usually caused by dysregulation of the complement system. Eculizumab, a monoclonal antibody against C5, is the drug of choice for treating aHUS. Herein we aimed to present 8 cases of renal transplantation performed on patients with aHUS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 8 patients who had been diagnosed with aHUS between the years 2012 to 2018 were enrolled and underwent transplantations. All patients received induction treatment, standard immunosuppresive treatment (tacrolimus, mycophenolic acid, prednisolone), and eculizumab. Eculizumab was administered at a dosage of 900 mg/wk for the first month and 1200 mg every 2 weeks thereafter. Patients were followed up and recorded in terms of demographic features, serum creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase, acute rejection episodes, and allograft outcomes.

RESULTS

Mean age was 34 ± 8 years (Male/Female: 6/2). One of the patients had a second transplantation. Median hemodialysis vintage (25%-75% interquartile range) was 37 (9-63) months. Four patients had pretransplant plasmapheresis and 2 patients had posttransplant plasmapheresis. Induction treatment was ATG in 7 patients, and basiliximab was used only in 1 patient. The median follow-up period was 25 (13-59) months. Mean serum creatinine levels were 1.9 ± .6, 1.2 ± .7, and 1 ± .1 mg/dL for the first day, first month, and last values, respectively. Mean lactate dehydrogenase levels were 286 ± 203, 239 ± 27, and 218 ± 86 U/L for first day, first month, and last values, respectively. None of the patients had an acute rejection episode. Currently, all patients have functioning allografts.

CONCLUSION

Patients with aHUS may be transplanted successfully with eculizumab with good allograft outcomes.