Consensus statement for diagnosis and treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is a chronic, multi-systemic, progressive and lifethreatening disease characterized by intravascular hemolysis, thrombotic events, serious infections and bone marrow failure. Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria results from the expansion of a clone of hematopoietic cells that due to an inactivating mutation of the X-linked gene PIG-A are deficient in glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked proteins. Early diagnosis, using flow cytometry performed on peripheral blood, the gold standard test to confirm the diagnosis of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, is essential for improved patient management and prognosis. The traditional therapy for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria includes blood transfusion, anti-thrombosis prophylaxis or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. The treatment that has recently become available is the complement blockade by the anti-C5 monoclonal antibody eculizumab. In this consensus, we are aiming to review the diagnosis and treatment of the paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria patients, as well as the early recognition of its systemic complications. These procedures express the opinions of experts and have been based on the best available evidence and international guidelines, with the purpose of increasing benefits and reducing harm to patients.

Bone Marrow of Contention: A Rare Case of Recurrent Acute Hepatitis.

Hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia is a well-recognized clinical syndrome in which marrow failure follows the development of hepatitis. Although aplastic anemia is intimately related to paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, until now, no cases of PNH-associated hepatitis have been described. We report a case of recurrent acute hepatitis preceding the clinical onset of PNH. Treatment of PNH with the complement inhibitor eculizumab (Soliris®) prevented both recurrences of episodes of intravascular hemolysis and liver enzyme alteration. This is the first known published case of PNH-associated hepatitis.

Resonancia magnética renal en un paciente con hemoglobinuria paroxística nocturna / Renal magnetic resonance in a patient with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired clonal disease causing hematopoietic cell alteration, caused by a mutation in the PIG-A gene; which does not allow certain important proteins to bind to the cells. A 58-year-old patient presented with headache, a history of malaria, and occasionally dark urine. Magnetic resonance imaging proved to be an effective diagnostic method for detecting renal cortical hemosiderosis, thanks to its high spatial resolution capacity.

La hemoglobinuria paroxística nocturna (HPN) es una enfermedad clonal adquirida ocasionando la alteración de células hematopoyética, causada por una mutación en el gen GPI-A; lo cual no permite que ciertas proteínas importantes se fijen a las células. Se presenta un paciente de 58 años que acude con cefalea, antecedente de malaria y en ocasiones orinas oscuras. La resonancia magnética demostró ser un método diagnóstico eficaz para detectar la hemosiderosis renal cortical, gracias a su elevada capacidad de resolución espacial.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria: small bowel findings.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a chronic hemolytic anemia of unknown etiology associated with morning hemoglobinuria, variable acholuric jaundice, and striking hemosiderinuria, all signs of hemolysis. Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria with infarction and hemorrhage of the gut leading to emergency surgery has been reported [1]; a history of thrombosis may be found before PNH is diagnosed [2]. We describe the radiographic findings in the small bowel of a patient with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria during an episode of moderately severe abdominal symptoms. Ours is the second reported case using barium study.