Long-term remission of atypical HUS with anti-factor H antibodies after cyclophosphamide pulses

• DOI: 10.1007/s00467-013-2558-9
• Publication Date: 2013-07-18T18:59:32Z
• Authors: Gwenaëlle Sana; Marie-Agnès Drago...; Marina Charbit; Karim Bouchireb; Caroline Rousset-...; Etienne Bérard; Rémi Salomon; Véronique Frémeau...; Patrick Niaudet; Olivia Boyer
• Keywords: Maintenance therapy

Anti-complement factor H (CFH) autoantibody (Ab)-associated atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) has a poor prognosis, but no consensus exists on its treatment.We report the follow-up of four children with anti-CFH Ab (8,000 to >32,000 arbitrary units)-associated aHUS after plasma exchanges (PEs), prednisone, and cyclophosphamide pulse therapy with the evolution of anti-CFH Ab titers and kidney function.Patient 1 received PEs + prednisone + cyclophosphamide pulses after two relapses following PEs and then PEs + rituximab. The other three patients were treated with PEs + prednisone + cyclophosphamide pulses as a first-line therapy. In our four patients, the induction protocol combining PEs + prednisone + cyclophosphamide pulses led to a rapid and sustained remission up to 6 years, 4 years and 4 months without any maintenance therapy. Kidney function was normal and anti-CFH Ab titer decreased, but remained detectable during remission without any clinical or biological signs of relapse.We demonstrate the long-term efficiency and safety of cyclophosphamide pulses combined with PEs and prednisone in anti-CFH Ab-associated aHUS leading to a prolonged decrease in anti-CFH Ab titers and prevention of relapses without the need for maintenance therapy.