title: Eculizumab treatment for rescue of renal function in IgA nephropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy is a chronic glomerulonephritis with excessive glomerular deposition of IgA1, C3 and C5b-9, which may lead to renal failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe the clinical course of an adolescent with rapidly progressive disease leading to renal failure in spite of immunosuppressive treatment. Due to refractory disease the patient was treated with eculizumab (anti-C5) for 3 months in an attempt to rescue renal function. Treatment led to clinical improvement with stabilization of the glomerular filtration rate and reduced proteinuria. Discontinuation of treatment led to a rapid deterioration of renal function. This was followed by a single dose of eculizumab, which again reduced creatinine levels temporarily.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early initiation of eculizumab therapy in patients with progressive IgA nephropathy may have a beneficial effect by blocking complement-mediated renal inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Therese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rosenblad
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rebetz
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.forename: Zivile
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Békássy
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sartz
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karpman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001706:Biopsy; D051056:Complement Inactivating Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology; D016879:Salvage Therapy / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D051056:Complement Inactivating Agents; C481642:eculizumab; D003404:Creatinine