Meningococcal Disease a Risk with Eculizumab Even After Vaccination

Vigilance, and perhaps antimicrobial prophylaxis, against invasive meningococcal disease is required in eculizumab-treated patients despite meningococcal vaccination.

Eculizumab is a monoclonal antibody that acts as a terminal complement inhibitor. The drug is licensed for treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome but has also been used in the treatment and prevention of antibody-mediated rejection in kidney transplant recipients (Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2015; 20:643).

Due to the increased risk for meningococcal infections, vaccination before receiving eculizumab is recommended, and patients and providers must enroll in a risk-evaluation and mitigation strategy as described in the eculizumab package insert. In the current report, CDC investigators requested that state health departments review existing meningococcal case investigation records since 2007 to …

Reviewing Author

Daniel Kaul, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNobelpharma; Pfizer

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Transplantation (Program Committee)

Daniel Kaul, MD

Disclosures

Grant/Research SupportNobelpharma; Pfizer

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Transplantation (Program Committee)

Meningococcal Disease a Risk with Eculizumab Even After Vaccination

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Reviewing Author