New insights into paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

WJ Savage, RA Brodsky - Hematology, 2007 - Taylor & Francis
Hematology, 2007Taylor & Francis
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an uncommon acquired hemolytic anemia
that manifests with abdominal pain, esophageal spasm, fatigue, and thrombosis. The
hallmark of PNH at the cellular level is a deficiency in cell surface
glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchored proteins; this deficiency on erythrocytes leads to
intravascular hemolysis. Free hemoglobin from hemolysis leads to circulating nitric oxide
depletion and is responsible for many of the clinical manifestations of PNH, including …
Abstract
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an uncommon acquired hemolytic anemia that manifests with abdominal pain, esophageal spasm, fatigue, and thrombosis. The hallmark of PNH at the cellular level is a deficiency in cell surface glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchored proteins; this deficiency on erythrocytes leads to intravascular hemolysis. Free hemoglobin from hemolysis leads to circulating nitric oxide depletion and is responsible for many of the clinical manifestations of PNH, including fatigue, erectile dysfunction, esophageal spasm, and thrombosis. The recently FDA approved complement inhibitor eculizumab has been shown to decrease hemolysis, decrease erythrocyte transfusion requirements, and improve quality of life for PNH patients.
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