Complement activation and blockade in massive post-partum haemorrhage, thrombotic microangiopathy and acute kidney injury: a case report

BACKGROUND: Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA)-mediated acute kidney injury (AKI) following massive haemorrhage is a rare but severe complication of the post-partum period. It is associated with a poor renal prognosis and a high risk of end-stage kidney disease. Complement activation may occur in this picture. However, whether complement activation, and thus complement blockade, may be critically relevant in this setting is unknown. CASE PRESENTATION: A 50 year-old woman presented with massive delayed post-partum haemorrhage (PPH). Despite bleeding control and normalization of coagulation parameters, she rapidly developed AKI stage 3 associated with dysmorphic microhematuria and proteinuria up to 2 g/day with the need of renal replacement therapy. Blood tests showed signs of TMA associated with markedly increased sC5b-9 and factor Bb plasma levels, respectively markers of terminal and alternative complement pathway over-activation. This clinical picture prompted us to initiate anti-C5 therapy. sC5b-9 normalized within 12 h after the first dose of eculizumab, factor Bb and C3 after seven days, platelet count after nine days and haptoglobin after 3 weeks. The clinical picture improved rapidly with blood pressure control within 48 h. Diuresis resumed after three days, kidney function rapidly improved and haemodialysis could be discontinued after the sixth and last dose. Serum creatinine returned to normal two years after presentation. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that massive PPH induced major activation of complement pathways, which ultimately lead to TMA-induced AKI. Various causes, such as oocyte-donation, the potential retention of placental material and the use of tranexamic acid may have contributed to complement activation due to PPH. The prompt administration of anti-C5 therapy may have rapidly restored kidney microcirculation patency, thus reversing signs of TMA and AKI. We propose that complement activation may represent a major pathophysiological player of this complication and may provide a novel therapeutic avenue to improve renal prognosis in TMA-induced AKI following massive PPH.