Safety and effectiveness of eculizumab for pediatric patients with atypical hemolytic–uremic syndrome in Japan: interim analysis of post-marketing surveillance

Abstract Background Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is a rare, complement-mediated disease associated with poor outcomes if untreated. Ravulizumab, a long-acting C5 inhibitor developed through minimal, targeted modifications to eculizumab was recently approved for the treatment of aHUS. Here, we report outcomes from a pediatric patient cohort from the ravulizumab clinical trial (NCT03131219) who were switched from chronic eculizumab to ravulizumab treatment. Methods Ten patients received a loading dose of ravulizumab on Day 1, followed by maintenance doses administered initially on Day 15, and then, every 4–8 weeks thereafter, depending on body weight. All patients completed the initial evaluation period of 26 weeks and entered the extension period. Results No patients required dialysis at any point throughout the study. The median estimated glomerular filtration rate values remained stable during the trial: 99.8 mL/min/1.73m2 at baseline, 93.5 mL/min/1.73m2 at 26 weeks, and 104 mL/min/1.73m2 at 52 weeks. At last available follow-up, all patients were in the same chronic kidney disease stage as recorded at baseline. Hematologic variables (platelets, lactate dehydrogenase, and hemoglobin) also remained stable throughout the initial evaluation period and up to the last available follow-up. All patients experienced adverse events; the most common were upper respiratory tract infection (40%) and oropharyngeal pain (30%). There were no meningococcal infections reported, no deaths occurred, and no patients discontinued during the study. Conclusions Overall, treatment with ravulizumab in pediatric patients with aHUS who were previously treated with eculizumab resulted in stable kidney and hematologic parameters, with no unexpected safety concerns when administered every 4–8 weeks. Trial registration Trial identifiers: Trial ID: ALXN1210-aHUS-312 Clinical trials.gov: NCT03131219 EudraCT number: 2016-002499-29

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Clinical Manifestation of Patients With Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome With the C3 p.I1157T Variation in the Kinki Region of Japan

Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis ◽

10.1177/1076029618771750 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 24 (8) ◽

pp. 1301-1307 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Takeshi Matsumoto ◽

Hidemi Toyoda ◽

Keishirou Amano ◽

Masahiro Hirayama ◽

Eiji Ishikawa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lactate Dehydrogenase ◽

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome ◽

Pediatric Patients ◽

Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome ◽

University Hospital ◽

Low Grade ◽

Onset Age ◽

Early Introduction ◽

Uremic Syndrome ◽

Triggering Events

The gain-of-function variation p.I1157T in C3 was previously identified in 8 patients with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) at Mie University Hospital. In the present study, we identified another 11 patients with aHUS with this variation, including 10 pediatric patients (onset age: 1-16 years). The variation seems to be geographically concentrated around Mie Prefecture in Japan. Fifteen of the 19 patients with aHUS experienced infection as probable triggering events. All 19 patients had renal dysfunction. Seven patients, including 2 from the previous study and 5 from the present study, were treated with eculizumab, with all showing a good response with hematological normalization. Among the 5 eculizumab-treated patients in the present study, 3 had an ambiguous diagnosis of aHUS due to low-grade hemolysis even with elevated levels of lactate dehydrogenase and bilirubin. In those cases, in-house targeted DNA sequencing identified the C3 p.I1157T variation carriers, which enabled the early initiation of treatment with eculizumab. The present study supports the early introduction of eculizumab in patients with aHUS, especially pediatric patients.

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