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9.5: Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)

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    38815
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    Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria is an acquired clonal disorder that starts at the stem cell level. Cells produced become susceptible and are destroyed by chronic complement-mediated hemolysis.1,2

    Cause(s):1,2

    Deficiency in glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor proteins (GPIs). Normally, CD55 and CD59 act as complement regulators to prevent autologous complement-mediated hemolysis. Without GPIs, cells lack CD55 and CD59 and undergo spontaneous intravascular hemolysis.

    Hemolytic episodes (Paroxysms) can be exacerbated by stressors such as inflammation or infections.

    Complications:2

    Hemolytic Anemia

    Bone Marrow Failure

    Thrombophilia

    Laboratory Results for PNH:1,3,4

    CBC:

    RBC: Decreased

    WBC: Decreased

    PLT: Decreased

    Hb: Decreased

    MCV: Increased

    RETIC: Increased

    PBS:

    May see:

    -nRBCs

    -Polychromasia

    If Iron Deficiency Present:

    -Hypochromic

    -Microcytic

    If Folate Deficiency Present:

    -Oval Macrocytes

    If BM Failure Present:

    -Pancytopenia

    BM:

    If BM Failure:

    -Impaired hematopoiesis

    -Hypocellular

    If not BM Failure, may be:

    -Normo to hypercellular

    -Erythroid hyperplasia

    Iron stores: Decreased, or absent

    Note: Any dysplastic findings may be indicative of MDS.

    Iron Studies:

    Same as iron deficiency anemia if patient becomes iron deficient.

    Other Tests:

    Sucrose Hemolysis Test: Positive for hemolysis

    Ham’s (Acidified Serum Lysis) Test: Positive

    Flow cytometry (for CD55 and CD59)

    DAT: Negative

    Osmotic Fragility: Normal

    Tests for IVH:

    Indirect bilirubin: Increased

    Haptoglobin: Decreased

    LD: Increased

    Hemoglobinemia

    Hemoglobinuria

    Hemosiderinuria


    References:

    1. DeZern AE, Brodsky RA. Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria. A Complement-Mediated Hemolytic Anemia. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am [Internet]. 2015 Jun 7 [cited 2018 Jun 26];29(3):479–94. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4695989/

    2. Mastellos DC, Ricklin D, Yancopoulou D, Risitano A, Lambris JD. Complement in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: Exploiting our current knowledge to improve the treatment landscape. Expert Rev Hematol [Internet]. 2014 Oct 2 [cited 2018 Jun 26];7(5):583–98. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4383744/

    3. Cochran-Black D. Hemolytic anemia: membrane defects. In: Clinical laboratory hematology. 3rd ed. New Jersey: Pearson; 2015. p. 317-33.

    4. Keohane EM. Intrinsic defects leading to increased erythrocyte destruction. In: Rodak’s hematology clinical applications and principles. 5th ed. St. Louis, Missouri: Saunders; 2015. p. 367–93.


    This page titled 9.5: Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Valentin Villatoro and Michelle To (Open Education Alberta) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.