Department of Internal Medicine, Unit for Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital 'Sveti Duh', Sveti Duh 64, Zagreb, Croatia; Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Šalata 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; Department of Internal Medicine, Unit for Intensive Care, University Hospital 'Sveti Duh', Sveti Duh 64, Zagreb, Croatia.
Clin Med (Lond). 2024 Nov;24(6):100250. doi: 10.1016/j.clinme.2024.100250. Epub 2024 Oct 4.
Atypical haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare disease associated with uncontrolled activation of the alternative complement pathway, leading to thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Early diagnosis and treatment with eculizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting the complement component C5, are crucial to improve outcomes and prevent renal failure and mortality. Current recommendations include lifelong eculizumab therapy, yet this practice presents challenges including high treatment costs and increased infection risks from prolonged complement inhibition. We hypothesise that a personalised eculizumab dosing strategy tailored to individual patient responses could optimise therapy, reduce costs and improve safety. This hypothesis was evaluated through a presentation of a patient who was managed with a specific eculizumab treatment approach. The patient's condition improved significantly, allowing for a gradual reduction in eculizumab dosage based on clinical response and drug level monitoring. Throughout treatment, the patient's complement activity and eculizumab levels were closely monitored, showing that lower doses maintained therapeutic efficacy without evident TMA recurrence. This case supports the feasibility of transitioning from fixed regimens to personalised dosing strategies in managing aHUS. Such approaches could mitigate the risks and costs associated with lifelong therapy while maintaining disease control, especially considering the variability in relapse risk among different genetic mutations. This personalised treatment model might significantly impact the management of aHUS, aligning clinical care with individual patient needs and economic considerations. Further research should relate drug pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics to clinical/genetic setting to identify milestones of individual patient treatment approach.
非典型溶血尿毒综合征(aHUS)是一种罕见疾病,与补体替代途径的失控激活有关,导致血栓性微血管病(TMA)。早期诊断和使用依库珠单抗(一种针对补体成分 C5 的单克隆抗体)治疗对于改善预后、预防肾衰竭和死亡至关重要。目前的建议包括终身依库珠单抗治疗,但这种做法存在挑战,包括治疗费用高和长期抑制补体导致感染风险增加。我们假设针对个体患者反应的个性化依库珠单抗剂量策略可以优化治疗、降低成本并提高安全性。这一假设通过介绍一位接受特定依库珠单抗治疗方法管理的患者得到了验证。患者的病情显著改善,允许根据临床反应和药物水平监测逐渐减少依库珠单抗的剂量。在整个治疗过程中,密切监测患者的补体活性和依库珠单抗水平,表明较低的剂量维持了治疗效果,而没有明显的 TMA 复发。该病例支持在管理 aHUS 中从固定方案过渡到个性化剂量策略的可行性。这种方法可以降低与终身治疗相关的风险和成本,同时保持疾病控制,特别是考虑到不同基因突变之间复发风险的差异。这种个性化治疗模式可能会对 aHUS 的管理产生重大影响,使临床护理与个体患者的需求和经济考虑保持一致。应进一步研究药物药代动力学/药效学与临床/遗传背景之间的关系,以确定个体患者治疗方法的里程碑。