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Journal of Hematology

Case Report

Volume 4, Number 2, June 2015, pages 178-180

Thrombotic Microangiopathy Mediated by Complement in Postpartum Sequentially Treated With Plasmapheresis and Eculizumab

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) comprises a heterogeneous group of diseases that can be acquired or inherited, with different clinical manifestations and have to mark the microangiopathic hemolytic anemia with schizocytes, thrombocytopenia and organ dysfunction due to ischemia and/or endothelial dysfunction [1]. In the absence of intravascular devices, the microangiopathic hemolysis arteriole stenosis in microcirculation may occur for five main reasons: thrombosis von Willebrand multimers typically found in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP); obstruction of the circulation by platelet and fibrin thrombi found in disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC); direct invasion of microcirculation by tumor cells; small vessel vasculitis, autoimmune or infectious etiology; endothelial dysfunction, which may be mediated by complement or Shiga-like toxin [1].

The period of pregnancy and postpartum eventually complicates these conditions, by immunological changes (predisposing the formation of autoantibodies), changes in clotting factors with decreased level of ADAMST13 enzyme, which cleaves factor multimers of von Willebrand, and own pregnancy (preeclampsia and clinical spectra). Most of the time, the differential diagnosis of these diseases is difficult, requiring a multidisciplinary approach for the best outcome of the patient.

We report a case of a young postpartum, with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, with TMA initially conducted as TTP, with partial response to plasmapheresis and complete response to eculizumab.

An 18-year-old female, previously healthy, term pregnant woman sought medical assistance with pressure peaks, lower limb edema and reports of supposedly generalized tonic-clonic seizures. She was treated with magnesium sulfate and performed by cesarean delivery, with newborn presenting good vitality. On the fifth day after surgery, the patient presented paleness, asthenia, dyspnea, altered level of consciousness, dysarthria, headache, nausea, vomiting, excessive sweating and anuria. The tests revealed anemia (Hb: 4.3 g/dL), thrombocytopenia (35,000/mm³) and elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (9,667 U/L).

She was then referred to Hospital Cesar Cals, where she was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) due to the worsening of symptoms. In the ICU, the hypothesis of TTP was raised, atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), antibody syndrome antiphospholipid catastrophic or elevated liver enzymes syndrome, thrombocytopenia and hemolysis (HELLP); the determination of ADAMTS13 (85%) was requested and plasmapheresis was started.

After the fifth session of plasma exchange, her thrombocytopenia, anemia and elevated levels of LDH improved clinically, but she presented no significant improvement in renal function and remained oliguric and dependent on dialysis. After stabilization, the patient was referred to the ward for further diagnostic investigation. Renal ultrasonography revealed a mild increase of parenchymal echogenicity and the echocardiogram revealed systolic dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 42%. Complement levels, antinuclear antibodies, serological tests for antiphospholipid antibodies and viral serology, such as hepatitis B and C, HIV and syphilis were negative.

With the diagnostic TMA at normal levels of ADAMTS13, predominant renal involvement was assessed as whether complement-mediated TMA indicated renal biopsy which evidenced slight interstitial fibrosis and tubular necrosis absence of intravascular thrombi (Fig. 1, 2), suggesting a diagnosis of aHUS, considering the lack of thrombosis in renal vasculature, as it reduces the possibility of TTP.

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Figure 1. Glomerule with wrinkled loops associated with an ischemic process (H&E, × 400)

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Figure 2. Arteriole with media thickening, endothelial edema and partial occlusion of lumen, features associated with microangiopathy (Masson Trichrome, × 400).

Eculizumab for the initiation of induction dose of 900 mg weekly for 4 weeks was determined. The patient’s renal function and urine output improved, which increased to a level around 1,500 mL/24 h, after 4 days of the first dose of medication discontinued. She is now, 9 months after the initial episode, hemodialysis free and asymptomatic in regular infusion of eculizumab 1,200 mg every 2 weeks.

Pregnancy and the postpartum period, by the physiological changes leading to decreased ADAMTS13 levels, supporting the emergence of TTP leading to immune deregulation, may form anti-FH antibodies, favoring the TMA-induced supplements, and anti-ADAMTS13. In the case of HELLP syndrome, pregnancy-specific, endothelial dysfunction occurs mediated by anti-angiogenic factors such as FMS-like tyrosine kinase, leading to microangiopathy syndrome unresponsive to the varying severe plasmapheresis.

The complement-mediated TMA, also known as aHUS, was first described in 1975 as a TMA with severe renal impairment and poor prognosis in patients with HUS and Shiga-toxin (STEC) negative [2]. We now know that this group of patients have a defect in the regulation of the activation of the fluid phase of the alternate complementary pathway, leading to the activation of C3b and to the deposit the same tissue, causing activation of C5 and formation of the membrane attack complex (MAC) with secondary endothelial dysfunction. Most of these patients (90%) have a genetic defect, the main deficiency of factor H (FH) and more rarely factor I, factor B and CD46, all regulators inactivation of C3. In 10% of cases, the defect is acquired, as anti-factor antibodies H. These most commonly begin the picture in childhood patients, but in some cases, as described, can begin in adulthood after a trigger, such as infection, pregnancy and surgical stress.

By having a higher prevalence and being considered an emergency, TTP should always be considered for treatment with plasma exchange increases survival of 10-15% to 90%. In cases of TMA by supplement, it may be partial response to plasmapheresis (around 50%) for spare factor H autoantibodies and withdrawal [2]. In our case, the important renal involvement with anuria, the normal levels of ADAMTS13 and the discrete response to initial treatment for TTP led to the indication of renal biopsy, which showed microangiopathy without renal arteriolar thrombi, suggesting TMA by complement. The analysis of mutations and antibodies against the regulatory factors may be requested, but there are several mutations described and the negativity of this research does not exclude the diagnosis [1].

Eculizumab is an anti-C5 monoclonal antibody that prevents the formation of MAC, and the studies based on such cases showed decreased progression of renal disease [1-6]. In our case, the response was extremely positive because, on the fourth day after the infusion, the patient recovered diuresis and does not need more renal replacement therapy.

Our case emphasizes the importance of investigating extensively the TMA in the postpartum period, since the conduction in each patient differs and they are serious diseases that affect young people of childbearing age.

Despite the high cost of medication prescribed to the patient, the benefit, both in functionality and in potential years of life gains outweighs the risk and the cost of prolonged hemodialysis and kidney transplantation.

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Journal of Hematology is published by Elmer Press Inc.