Breaking New Ground: Stopping Kidney Treatment Can Benefit Patients and Save NHS Funds

Recent research has demonstrated that early discontinuation of treatment for certain rare kidney diseases does not lead to relapse and offers significant advantages for both patients and the National Health Service (NHS). Specifically, the treatment with eculizumab, used for managing atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS)—a rare, life-threatening immune disorder—can often be safely stopped after six months of therapy, provided patients are carefully monitored by medical professionals.

Atypical HUS previously carried a high risk of kidney failure, but thanks to innovative clinical trials led by Newcastle University in collaboration with Newcastle Hospitals, the outlook has dramatically improved. The drug eculizumab was approved by the NHS in 2015, transforming patient outcomes. However, the latest study published in The Lancet Regional Health Europe reveals that most patients can discontinue eculizumab without experiencing disease relapse, reducing treatment-related risks and improving quality of life.

Importantly, stopping the treatment early also eliminates the increased risk of meningococcal sepsis—a serious infection associated with the drug—and results in substantial cost savings for the NHS, estimated at £4.2 million per patient over their lifetime. Professor Neil Sheerin, a leading nephrologist at Newcastle, highlighted that this approach not only enhances patient wellbeing by removing the physical and psychological burdens of ongoing treatment but also offers considerable economic benefits, saving approximately £110.4 million across five years.

The study involved 28 participants aged between 2 and 59 from England and Scotland, all of whom had been on eculizumab for at least six months. Following treatment withdrawal, only four patients experienced a return of kidney disease, while the remaining 24 remained disease-free. Medical experts continue to monitor these patients to promptly reinitiate treatment if necessary, ensuring safety while reducing unnecessary medication exposure.

This breakthrough illustrates the importance of integrating clinical research into routine NHS care, emphasizing the potential for more personalized and efficient treatment pathways. Ongoing research aims to refine identifying which patients are most likely to safely discontinue treatment again after relapse and to better predict relapse risks.

Overall, the findings mark a significant advancement in the management of aHUS, highlighting how cautious withdrawal of high-cost therapies can improve patient quality of life and optimize healthcare resources.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-08-kidney-treatment-significantly-benefits-patients.html