Eculizumab as a therapeutic approach for severe crescentic recurrence of immunoglobulin A nephropathy after kidney transplantation

Crescentic forms of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) are rare but can be associated with rapid kidney failure and a high rate of end-stage renal disease despite immunosuppression therapy. Complement activation has emerged as a key driver of glomerular injury in IgAN. Therefore, complement inhibitors may be a rational treatment option in patients unresponsive to first-line immunosuppressive therapy. Here, we describe the case of a 24year-old woman presenting with crescentic IgAN recurrence a few months after living kidney transplantation. Considering the dramatic graft failure accompanied by malignant hypertension and thrombotic microangiopathy features worsening after a first-line of highdose steroids and 3 sessions of plasma exchanges, eculizumab was started as a rescue therapy. For the first time, the clinical response to eculizumab was highly successful, with a complete graft recovery without any relapse after 1 year of treatment. Further clinical studies are strongly needed to specify which patients might benefit from terminal complement blockade.

Automated summary

Crescentic forms of IgA nephropathy are rare but can lead to rapid kidney failure. Complement inhibitors may be a rational treatment option for patients unresponsive to immunosuppressive therapy. We report a successful case of crescentic IgA nephropathy recurrence after kidney transplantation, in which eculizumab was used as a rescue therapy.