Kidney patient now free of burden of lifelong treatment

A WOMAN who survived a life-threatening kidney disease has been freed from “lifelong” treatment side-effects thanks to Newcastle research.

- By SAM VOLPE

York woman Louise Percival, 35, was diagnosed with Atypical Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (aHUS) in 2017.

This is an immune system condition which can lead to kidney failure and, as a result, she was given the pioneering drug eculizumab. This is a treatment trialled itself in Newcastle by a joint team across Newcastle University and the city’s hospital trust.

It’s a condition that can strike out of the blue but previous research showed how the drug can prevent organ failure in more than three-quarters of patients.

It has been vital in treating Louise, but its invasive nature every few weeks for life had been a difficult thing to get used to, especially as it brought with it side-effects including hair loss, migraines and breathlessness.

Now, a study Louise was part of led by Newcastle University and Newcastle Hospitals experts has found that after six months of treatment it is possible to withdraw the treatment without risking relapse. For patients like Louise, this is life-changing.

She said: “When I was diagnosed with aHUS I felt overwhelmed as it was a huge burden to live with - it was life-changing as it’s something that will never go away. I strongly disliked the eculizumab infusions as they had to be given religiously every two weeks, which impacted my holidays and social events.