Lumasiran in the Management of Patients with Primary Hyperoxaluria Type 1: From Bench to Bedside

Abstract

Primary hyperoxaluria (PH) is a rare genetic disease caused by excessive hepatic production and elevated urinary excretion of oxalate that leads to recurrent nephrolithiasis, nephrocalcinosis and, eventually, kidney failure. As glomerular filtration rate declines, oxalate accumulates leading to systemic oxalosis, a debilitating condition with high morbidity and mortality. Although PH is usually diagnosed during infancy, it can present at any age with different phenotypes, ranging from mild symptoms to extremely debilitating manifestations. PH is an autosomal recessive disorder and, to date, three types have been identified: PH1, PH2 and PH3. PH1 is the most common and most aggressive type, accounting for almost 80% of primary hyperoxaluria diagnoses. Until 2020, general treatment for PH1 consisted mainly in high fluid intake, urine alkalization, surgical management of recurrent nephrolithiasis and eventually, if and when kidney failure occurred, intensive dialysis regimens and transplantation strategies (simultaneous or sequential liver-kidney transplant or isolated liver/kidney transplant in carefully selected patients). Specific treatment did and still consists in administration of pyridoxine hydrochloride, although it is only effective in a subset of PH1 patients. Lumasiran, a novel biological drug based on mRNA interference that has been recently approved in the US and European Union, showed promising results and is set to be a turning point in the management of PH1. This literature review aims to summarize the available evidence on PH1 treatment with lumasiran, in order to provide both pediatric and adult nephrologists and clinicians with the knowledge for the identification and management of PH1 patients suitable for treatment.

Keywords:

• primary hyperoxaluria
• oxalate
• lumasiran
• iRNA
• nephrolithiasis

Author Contributions

Both authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

PMF received consultant fees and grant support from Allena Pharmaceuticals, Alnylam, AstraZeneca, BioHealth Italia, Otsuka Pharmaceuticals, Vifor Fresenius, and royalties as an author for UpToDate. VDA received consultant fees from Allena Pharmaceuticals. PMF and VDA are members of the European Reference Network for Rare Kidney Diseases (ERKNet) – Project ID No 739532.

Additional information

Funding

This study was not funded.