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Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria
Aka: Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria, PNH
- Pathophysiology
- Rare intrinsic RBC membrane defect
- Increased RBC sensitivity to complement damage
- Symptoms and signs
- Chronic Anemia
- Abdominal Pain
- Retrosternal pain
- Lumbar back pain
- Superficial migratory thrombophlebitis
- Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria
- Labs
- Coombs Test
- Negative
- Peripheral Smear
- Reticulocytosis
- Hypochromasia (Chronic urinary iron loss)
- Urine
- Hemoglobinuria may be present
- Hemosiderin more often present
- Complete Blood Count
- Hemoglobin or Hematocrit consistent with Anemia
- Leukopenia
- Hemosiderin
- Leukocytes and Urine
- Ham Test Positive (Insensitive but highly specific)
- Increased Hemolysis in acid solution
- Sucrose Hemolysis Test (Sensitive but less specific)
- Increased Hemolysis in sucrose solution
- Complications
- Acute Myelocytic Leukemia (5-10%)
- Thrombotic Complications
- Chronic Anemia
- Management
- Anemia
- Folic Acid supplementation
- Iron Supplementation
- Androgen Trial for 2 months
- Fluoxymesterone 5-40 mg PO qd
- Oxymetholone 1-5 mg/kg/day PO
- Nandrolone decanoate 25-200 mg each week IM
- Hemolysis
- Prednisone
- Dose: 0.25 - 1.0 mg/kg/day (15-40 mg PO qd)
- Daily steroids not recommended unless critical need
- Alternate day therapy may be helpful
- Transfusion
- Most patients become transfusion dependent
- Blood Antibody development is common
- Washed RBCs or frozen deglycerolized RBCs
- Thrombotic Complications
- Use Heparin with caution!