Efficacy of recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin for childhood hemolytic uremic syndrome

Yukihiko Kawasaki1, Kazuhide Suyama, Atsushi Ono

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Fukushima, Japan.

Recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin (rhTM) is a promising therapeutic natural anticoagulant and is used clinically for the treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Herein is reported the cases of two HUS children treated with rhTM. The patients were diagnosed as having typical HUS on the basis of thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, acute renal failure, and the detection Escherichia coli 0157. I.v. rhTM was started as an anti-coagulant drug. At 2 days after the first treatment in both patients, fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products and d-dimer levels were significantly decreased, and there was a subsequent slight improvement in thrombocytopenia, and a decrease in serum lactate dehydrogenase level. Urinary protein excretion gradually diminished and a decrease in serum creatinine level was observed. The patients did not require dialysis therapy. The present results suggest that rhTM may be a safe and effective treatment for DIC complicated with HUS in children.