Eculizumab for paediatric patients with atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome: full dataset analysis of post-marketing surveillance in Japan

Shuichi Ito; Hiroshi Hataya; Akira Ashida; Riku Hamada; Tomoaki Ishikawa; Yumiko Ishikawa; Akihiko Shimono; Takao Konomoto; Tomoki Miyazawa; Masao Ogura; Kazuki Tanaka; Shoji Kagami

doi:10.1093/ndt/gfac150

Eculizumab for paediatric patients with atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome: full dataset analysis of post-marketing surveillance in Japan

Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2023 Feb 13;38(2):414-424. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfac150.

Authors

Shuichi Ito¹, Hiroshi Hataya², Akira Ashida³, Riku Hamada⁴, Tomoaki Ishikawa⁵, Yumiko Ishikawa⁶, Akihiko Shimono⁶, Takao Konomoto⁷, Tomoki Miyazawa⁸, Masao Ogura⁹, Kazuki Tanaka¹⁰, Shoji Kagami¹¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Paediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan.
² Department of General Paediatrics, Department of Nephrology, Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Centre, Tokyo, Japan.
³ Department of Paediatrics, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka, Japan.
⁴ Department of Nephrology, Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Centre, Tokyo, Japan.
⁵ Department of Paediatrics, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan.
⁶ Alexion Pharma GK, Tokyo, Japan.
⁷ Division of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan.
⁸ Department of Paediatrics, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
⁹ Division of Nephrology and Rheumatology, Department of Medical Subspecialties, National Centre for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.
¹⁰ Department of Nephrology, Aichi Children's Health and Medical Centre, Aichi, Japan.
¹¹ Tokushima University Hospital, Tokushima, Japan.

Abstract

Background: Eculizumab was approved for atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS) in Japan in 2013. Post-marketing surveillance (PMS) was mandated by regulatory authorities to assess the safety and effectiveness of eculizumab in patients with aHUS in a real-world setting.

Methods: Paediatric patients in the PMS cohort who were <18 years of age at the first administration of eculizumab and diagnosed with aHUS [excluding Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli HUS, thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura and secondary thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA)] were included in the effectiveness and safety analysis. Clinical endpoints of effectiveness [complete TMA response, TMA event-free status, platelet (PLT) count and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) normalization, serum creatinine (sCr) decrease and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) improvement] were analysed in patients treated with at least one dose of eculizumab. Serious adverse events (SAEs) were also evaluated.

Results: A total of 40 paediatric patients (median age 5 years) were included. The median eculizumab treatment duration was 66 weeks. PLT count, LDH and eGFR significantly improved at 10 days post-treatment. Complete TMA response, haematologic normalization, sCr decrease, eGFR improvement and TMA event-free status were achieved by 73.3%, 73.3%, 70.0%, 78.3% and 77.5% of patients, respectively. Discontinuation criteria were met by 18 patients: 13 patients maintained treatment discontinuation at the end of observation and 5 patients, including 1 patient with aHUS relapse, continued the treatment but extended the treatment interval. During eculizumab treatment, 59 SAEs (0.66/person-year) were reported. Although four deaths were reported, none of them were related to eculizumab.

Conclusion: Eculizumab was well tolerated and effective for paediatric patients with aHUS in the real-world setting in Japan.

Keywords: atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome; complement; eculizumab; post-marketing surveillance; thrombotic microangiopathy.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / adverse effects
Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome* / diagnosis
Atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome* / drug therapy
Child
Child, Preschool
Complement Inactivating Agents / adverse effects
Humans
Japan
Product Surveillance, Postmarketing
Thrombotic Microangiopathies* / complications

Substances

eculizumab
Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
Complement Inactivating Agents