ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

Please note that you are viewing an archived section from 2021 and some content may be unavailable. To unlock all content for 2021, please visit the archives.

Abstract: PO1656

Outcome of Kidney Transplantation in Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Without Eculizumab Prophylaxis: A Single-Center Experience

Session Information

Category: Glomerular Diseases

  • 1203 Glomerular Diseases: Clinical, Outcomes, and Trials

Authors

  • Duineveld, Caroline, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, Gelderland, Netherlands
  • Bouwmeester, Romy N., Radboudumc, Nijmegen, Gelderland, Netherlands
  • Wijnsma, Kioa L., Radboudumc, Nijmegen, Gelderland, Netherlands
  • Van De Kar, Nicole, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, Gelderland, Netherlands
  • Wetzels, Jack F., Radboudumc, Nijmegen, Gelderland, Netherlands
Background

A high risk of aHUS recurrence (60-80%) is reported after kidney transplantation. Therefore, it is suggested to perform kidney transplantation in aHUS patients with eculizumab prophylaxis. In 2017 we reported a favorable outcome after kidney transplantation in aHUS patients without eculizumab prophylaxis, using kidneys from living donors and a transplantation protocol aimed at reduction of endothelial injury.(1) Here, we present the results of our treatment protocol with prolonged follow-up.

Methods

All patients with a previous history of aHUS who received a living or deceased donor kidney transplantation in the Radboud University medical center between 2011 and 2020 were evaluated.

Results

We included 26 aHUS patients (M 9; F 17, median age at transplantation 47y, range 22-69). In 22 patients (85%) 24 genetic variants were found: C3 (N=14), CFH (N=8), CFB (N=2). Recurrence risk was considered high in 18 patients and moderate in 8 patients. Nineteen patients received a graft from a living donor (LD) and 7 patients a graft from a brain-death deceased donor (DBD). All patients were treated with low-dose tacrolimus. Six patients (23%) developed aHUS recurrence (4/19 LD, 2/7 DBD) and were treated with eculizumab. Of note, recurrence occurred >12 months after transplantation in two patients. No patient lost the graft due to aHUS recurrence. One patient lost the graft due to rejection and BK nephropathy, one patient died with a functioning graft due to infections. After a median follow-up of 63.6 months (range 12-116) median eGFR was 53.5 ml/min/1.73m2, and proteinuria was negligible (median urine protein-creatinine ratio 0.12 g/10mmol, range 0.04-0.4).

Conclusion

Kidney transplantation without eculizumab prophylaxis is feasible and safe with a relatively low recurrence rate. Atypical HUS recurrence may present late after kidney transplantation and may not be prevented by short course eculizumab prophylaxis.

References: (1) Duineveld, C., et al., Living Donor Kidney Transplantation in Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome: A Case Series. Am J Kidney Dis, 2017. 70(6): p. 770-777.