We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Role of eculizumab in a pediatric refractory gemcitabine-induced thrombotic microangiopathy: a case report.
- Authors
Facchini, Ludovica; Lucchesi, Maurizio; Stival, Alessia; Roperto, Rosa Maria; Melosi, Francesca; Materassi, Marco; Farina, Silvia; Tintori, Veronica; de Martino, Maurizio; Sardi, Iacopo
- Abstract
<bold>Background: </bold>The incidence of gemcitabine-induced hemolytic uremic syndrome has already been described in adults. Several approaches have been employed in the treatment of gemcitabine-induced hemolytic uremic syndrome with different outcomes. One of the most promising agents is eculizumab, which is a monoclonal antibody directed against C5 complement protein.<bold>Case Presentation: </bold>We reported the case of a 3-year-old white boy with medulloblastoma who underwent high-dose chemotherapy and craniospinal irradiation. Afterwards he started maintenance chemotherapy with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin. After five courses he presented a progressive clinical worsening, which resulted in a systemic thrombotic microangiopathy. Initially he was treated with rituximab without clinical improvement. Therefore he started therapy with repeated cycles of eculizumab. After seven infusions he showed a gradual improvement and finally a complete remission of gemcitabine-induced hemolytic uremic syndrome.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>Eculizumab prevents serious complement-mediated vascular damage for chemotherapy-induced thrombotic microangiopathy in pediatric cases.
- Subjects
ECULIZUMAB; MONOCLONAL antibodies
- Publication
Journal of Medical Case Reports, 2017, Vol 11, p1
- ISSN
1752-1947
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1186/s13256-017-1373-5