NYMC Faculty Publications
Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in First Trimester Pregnancy Successfully Treated with Eculizumab
Journal Title
Experimental Hematology & Oncology
First Page
4
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2017
Department
Medicine
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome is a rare disorder which is known to cause acute thrombotic microangiopathy during pregnancy with poor maternal and fetal outcomes. Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome is caused mostly by dysregulation of alternative complement pathway secondary to genetic mutations. Most of the cases reported have been in the post-partum period. We report a rare case of a patient who presents with thrombotic microangiopathy in the first trimester of her eleventh pregnancy and was successfully treated with eculizumab. CASE PRESENTATION: A 30-year-old woman presented at 10 weeks of gestation with hypertension, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury, consistent with thrombotic microangiopathy. She was managed initially with daily plasmapheresis. However, her kidney function did not recover, requiring hemodialysis. ADAMTS13 activity was later found to be within normal limit, hence diagnosis of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome was strongly considered at that time and she was immediately treated with anti-C5 humanized monoclonal antibody (eculizumab). The patient responded well (resolution of thrombotic microangiopathy and recovery of renal function) to eculizumab, with continued remission after discharge and successfully delivered a healthy baby at term without any peripartum complications. CONCLUSION: Early recognition of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome is often difficult as several other conditions also manifest as thrombotic microangiopathy during pregnancy, causing delay in initiating appropriate treatment. Our case suggests that treatment of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome in early trimester of pregnancy with eculizumab results in good outcome to mother and fetus.
Recommended Citation
Andries, G., Karass, M., Yandrapalli, S., Karass, M., Liu, D., Nelson, J., Pawar, R., & Chugh, S. (2017). Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in First Trimester Pregnancy Successfully Treated with Eculizumab. Experimental Hematology & Oncology, 6, 4. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40164-017-0064-7
Publisher's Statement
Originally published in Experimental Hematology & Oncology, 6(4). The original material can be found here.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Included in
Medical Pharmacology Commons, Obstetrics and Gynecology Commons, Reproductive and Urinary Physiology Commons
