Eculizumab in the management of drug-induced thrombotic microangiopathy: A scoping review of the literature

Post-transplant Thrombotic Microangiopathy

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a challenging and serious complication of kidney transplantation that significantly affects graft and patient survival, occurring in 0.8%-15% of transplant recipients. TMA is characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and organ injury due to endothelial damage and microthrombi formation in small vessels. However, clinical features can range from a renal-limited form, diagnosed only on a kidney biopsy, to full-blown systemic manifestations, which include neurologic, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular injury. TMA can arise because of genetic or acquired defects such as in complement-mediated TMA or can occur in the context of other conditions like infections, autoimmune diseases, or immunosuppressive drugs, where complement activation may also play a role. Recurrent TMA after kidney transplant is almost always complement-mediated, although complement overactivation may also play a role in de novo post-transplant TMAs associated with ischemia-reperfusion injury, immunosuppressive drugs, antibody-mediated rejection, viral infections, and relapse of autoimmune diseases, such as antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Differentiating between a complement-mediated process and one triggered by other factors is often challenging but critical to minimize allograft damage because the former is nonresponsive to supportive therapy, needs long-term anticomplement therapy, and has a high risk of recurrence. Given the central role of complement and effect of genetic defects on the risk of recurrence in many forms of post-transplant TMA, genetic testing for complement disorders is key for proper diagnosis and management. Given that complement activation may also play a role in a subset of TMAs associated with other conditions, prompt recognition and timely initiation of anticomplement therapy is equally important. In addition, TMA associated with noncomplement genes, often part of a broader syndromic process with distinct clinical features, has also been described. Early identification and treatment are essential to prevent graft failure and other severe complications. This review explores the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying various post-transplant TMAs.

Proteasome inhibitor-associated thrombotic microangiopathy: a real-world retrospective and pharmacovigilance database analysis

OBJECTIVES

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is associated with carfilzomib, but the potential association between bortezomib or ixazomib exposure and TMA is still unknown. Besides, the knowledge of carfilzomib-induced TMA is based mainly on case reports. We aim to quantify the risk and better characterize the clinical features of proteasome inhibitor (PI)-induced TMA.

METHODS

Data from 2004 to 2023 on TMA events induced by PIs were retrieved from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database and conducted disproportionality analyse. Case reports/series from 2004 to 2023 on PI-induced TMA were extracted and analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

FAERS pharmacovigilance data identified 225 TMA cases across 213 individuals related to PIs therapy. PIs were significantly associated with TMA (n = 213, ROR 1.71 [1.49-1.96]; EBGM 1.70 [1.52]), and carfilzomib had the greatest proportion (58.7%) and highest positive signal values (n = 125, ROR 17.97 [15.04-21.47]; EBGM 17.49 [15.07]) of TMA. Sixty cases (median age: 63 years) from 35 studies showed evidence of TMA, with 37 (61.7%) were male. The typical initial symptoms were gastrointestinal symptoms (45.3%), fever (24.5%), fatigue/asthenia (20.8%), neurological signs (18.9%), and dyspnea (17.0%). The median time to TMA onset was 8 days. Most patients presented with hemolytic anemia (98.1%), thrombocytopenia (96.6%), and acute kidney injury (96.7%). Cessation of PIs and treatment with plasma exchange therapy (25.0%), hemodialysis (31.7%), and eculizumab (26.7%) were associated with improved hematologic outcomes (96.3%) and renal outcomes (93.3%).

CONCLUSION

This study identified PIs agents with significant reporting associations with TMA. A prompt diagnosis of TMA and supportive treatments are necessary for patients receiving PIs concurrent with anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury.

Onconephrology

Subspecialized training in the field of onconephrology offers a uniquely informed approach to the care of the patient with both cancer and kidney disease. There is a significant knowledge gap that has been created by the fact that patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min are generally excluded from clinical cancer trials. Thus, oncologists rely on the clinical experience and expertise of onconephrologists to dose cytotoxic chemotherapies, to recognize and manage complications of newer targeted drugs and immunotherapies, to become partners in establishing guidelines relating to the management of these complications, and to collaborate on the design of future clinical trials in this cohort. In this section, we provide a glimpse into some common clinical scenarios encountered by the onconephrologist and demonstrate how clinical data and observations inform decision-making in these situations.

Delayed Onset of Thrombotic Microangiopathy (TMA) upon Prolonged Carfilzomib Therapy in Multiple Myeloma: A Case Report and Comprehensive Review

BACKGROUND

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) is a potentially life-threatening complication associated with carfilzomib, a proteasome inhibitor approved for treating multiple myeloma. TMA typically presents within the initial months of treatment; however, delayed onset is rare and poses significant diagnostic challenges.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of the medical records of a 47-year-old Caucasian woman diagnosed with IgA kappa myeloma who developed signs and symptoms consistent with TMA eleven months after the initiation of carfilzomib therapy and already in ongoing very good partial remission.

RESULTS

The clinical presentation included an acute onset of weakness, dizziness, somnolence, diffuse bruising, oliguria, jaundice, severe thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury. An immediate workup raised a strong suspicion for TMA, confirmed by laboratory findings of schistocytosis and complement activation. Following the immediate discontinuation of carfilzomib, the patient underwent 18 plasmapheresis (PEX) sessions and received supportive fresh frozen plasma transfusions, which resulted in the complete remission of TMA symptoms without the need for complement inhibitory therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The need for ongoing monitoring for TMA throughout carfilzomib therapy, regardless of treatment duration, is emphasized. Early diagnosis and intervention, including drug discontinuation and the timely initiation of PEX, are crucial for patient recovery.

SUrvey of renal Biopsy registry database and Anticancer dRUg therapy in Japan (SUBARU-J study)

Background

Kidney complications associated with anticancer drug therapy have greatly increased recently. We aimed to investigate the real-world clinical outcomes of anticancer drug therapy-associated renal complications in Japan using the national kidney biopsy database, Japan Renal Biopsy Registry (J-RBR).

Methods

From 2018 to 2021, 449 cases from 49 facilities identified as 'drug-induced' histopathology in the J-RBR were screened, of which a total of 135 were confirmed as anticancer drug-related cases and included in the analysis. Overall survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by logrank test. The Cox regression model was used to evaluate the association between variables and deaths.

Results

The most common primary sites of malignancies were the lung (33.3%), followed by gastrointestinal (16.3%) and gynaecological (11.1%) cancers. Tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN; 47.4%) and thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA; 35.6%) were the most frequent diagnoses. All immunoglobulin A nephropathy, minimal change disease and crescentic glomerulonephritis (CrGN) cases were immune checkpoint inhibitor related. All CrGN cases were anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody negative. Antibiotics were most frequently used concomitantly with anticancer drugs in TMA cases among subgroups (TMA versus others: 62.5 versus 27.5%; P < .001). Among TMA cases, the serum lactate dehydrogenase level tended to be higher in cytotoxic agent-associated TMA (CTx-TMA) than in other TMAs, but was not significant between groups (415.5 versus 219.0 U/l; P = .06). Overall survival was worse in CTx-TMA than in other TMAs (P = .007). The Cox model demonstrated proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use (hazard ratio 2.49, P = .001) as a significant prognostic factor, as well as the presence of metastasis and serum albumin level.

Conclusions

Our registry analysis highlighted various presentations of biopsy-proven kidney complications associated with anticancer drug therapy. Clinicians should be aware of worse outcomes associated with CTx-TMA and the prognostic role of PPI use.

Carfilzomib-induced thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) refractory to eculizumab: A case report and literature review

This case report describes the clinical course of a patient with relapsed IgA kappa multiple myeloma with high-risk cytogenetics. Initially treated with daratumumab-bortezomib-lenalidomide-dexamethasone (Dara-VRD) then transitioned to lenalidomide maintenance. However, he experienced a relapse and was treated with carfilzomib-based therapy (CFZ) but developed drug-induced thrombotic microangiopathy (DI-TMA). Despite receiving eculizumab and supportive care, the patient's condition worsened, leading to encephalopathy and refractory gastrointestinal bleeding in the setting of persistent thrombocytopenia. Ultimately, the decision was made to transition to comfort-focused care. DI-TMA has been documented with various proteasome inhibitors such as ixazomib and bortezomib. Additionally, other medications such as cyclosporine, tacrolimus, clopidogrel, ticlopidine, and interferon have been associated with DI-TMA as well (Pisoni et al. (Drug Saf 24:491-501, 2001) [18]). Here we discuss a case of carfilzomib-induced TMA (CFZ-TMA) refractory to eculizumab as well as a review of the published literature.

The Phenomenon of Thrombotic Microangiopathy in Cancer Patients

Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) encompasses a range of disorders characterized by blood clotting in small blood vessels, leading to organ damage. It can manifest as various syndromes, including thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), and others, each with distinct causes and pathophysiology. Thrombo-inflammation plays a significant role in TMA pathogenesis: inflammatory mediators induce endothelial injury and activation of platelet and coagulation cascade, contributing to microvascular thrombosis. Primary TMA, such as TTP, is primarily caused by deficient ADAMTS13 metalloproteinase activity, either due to antibody-mediated inhibition or intrinsic enzyme synthesis defects. In cancer patients, a significant reduction in ADAMTS13 levels and a corresponding increase in VWF levels is observed. Chemotherapy further decreased ADAMTS13 levels and increased VWF levels, leading to an elevated VWF/ADAMTS13 ratio and increased thrombotic risk. Drug-induced TMA (DITMA) can result from immune-mediated or non-immune-mediated mechanisms. Severe cases of COVID-19 may lead to a convergence of syndromes, including disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), and TMA. Treatment of TMA involves identifying the underlying cause, implementing therapies to inhibit complement activation, and providing supportive care to manage complications. Plasmapheresis may be beneficial in conditions like TTP. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial to prevent serious complications and improve outcomes.

Vaccination proposal for patients on onasemnogene abeparvovec therapy

The approval of disease-modifying treatment in spinal muscular atrophy made the condition less severe. The course of the disease changed, but some new concerns occurred with the different new therapies. The side effects of onasemnogene aboparvovec therapy can raise differential diagnostic challenges and necessitate immune therapy, leading to immunosuppression affecting response to vaccines. We provide a pretherapy screening proposal from an infectological point of view separately for newborns treated presymptomatically and children diagnosed with symptoms at any age. Furthermore, we summarise the guidelines on the vaccination before, during, and after immune therapy (steroids) in onasemnogene aboparvovec-treated patients.