Preemptive Use of Eculizumab for Living-Donor Kidney Transplantation in a Child with Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome

Abstract

Eculizumab is an anti-complement C5 monoclonal antibody that has recently been reported as an effective therapy for atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome. However, few data are available on the preemptive use of this medication in pediatric kidney transplantation. This report describes a successful preemptive use of eculizumab in combination with living unrelated kidney transplanta- tion in a 10-year-old child with end-stage renal disease secondary to atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome who has a complement factor H mutation that has not been previously reported. Further observations and clinical trials are required to address the challenges and areas of uncertainty related to preemptive eculizumab therapy for kidney transplantation in children and adults with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome.