Early diagnosis is essential for improved patient management and prognosis. Learn about ICCS and other expert recommendations for who should be tested for PNH.
PNH: A progressive, destructive, and life-threatening disease1
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a hematopoietic stem cell disorder caused by an acquired mutation in the phosphatidylinositol glycan class A (PIG-A gene). All resulting cell lines from these PNH marrow clones lack key, naturally occurring terminal complement inhibitors on the cell surface. This renders them vulnerable to constant attack and lysis by the terminal complement complex (TCC), also known as C5b-9 or the membrane attack complex (MAC). The result is chronic, intravascular hemolysis, and is life-threatening.2
PNH can cause thrombosis, end-organ damage, and impaired quality of life
- Thrombosis and renal failure are leading causes of death6,8
- PNH may be diagnosed at any age; median age is in the early 30s4
- Diagnosis typically delayed from 1 to more than 10 years3
PNH is a disease of complement-mediated hemolysis
- Complement is activated to allow rapid first-line immune responses13
- Insufficient regulation of the complement cascade can have highly destructive effects13
- In PNH, the deficiency of complement inhibitors leads to chronic, uncontrolled complement activation, resulting in chronic intravascular hemolysis and granulocyte and platelet activation6-10,14
Historical care for PNH
Historically, there have been few options for care of patients with PNH. Palliative therapies include blood transfusions, corticosteroids, anticoagulants, androgen therapy, supplements such as folic acid and iron, and bone marrow transplantation, but patients with PNH suffer high rates of mortality despite any of these supportive therapy options. Characterization of the role of complement in the pathophysiology of PNH has led to major advances in caring for patients with PNH.4,5
PNH has been called “the most vicious acquired thrombophilic state known in medicine”. 15 Learn which common symptoms are associated with an increased risk of thromboembolism in a patient diagnosed with PNH.
References: 1. Hill A, Sapsford RJ, Scally A, et al. Under-recognized complications in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria: raised pulmonary pressure and reduced right ventricular function. Br J Haematol. 2012;158:409-414. 2. Risitano AM. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2013;735:155-172. 3. Dacie JV, Lewis SM. Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria: clinical manifestations, haematology, and nature of the disease. Ser Haemat. 1972;5:3-23. 4. Socié G, Mary J-Y, de Gramont A, et al; for the French Society of Haematology. Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria: long-term follow-up and prognostic factors. Lancet. 1996;348:573-577. 5. Parker C, Omine M, Richards S, et al; for International PNH Interest Group. Blood. 2005;106:3699-3709. 6. Hillmen P, Lewis SM, Bessler M, et al. Natural history of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. N Engl J Med. 1995;333:1253-1258. 7. Lee JW, Jang JH, Lee JH, et al. Haematologica.2010;95(s2):205-206. 8. Nishimura J-I, Kanakura Y, Ware RE, et al. Clinical course and flow cytometric analysis of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria in the United States and Japan. Medicine. 2004;83:193-207. 9. Bessler M, Schrezenmeier H, Maciejewski JP, et al. Blood. 2007;110: Abstract 840. 10. Walport MJ. N Engl J Med. 2001;344:1140-1144. 11. Noris M, Remuzzi G. N Engl J Med. 2009;361:1676-1687. 12. Rosse WF, Hillmen P, Schreiber AD. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2004:48-62. 13. Ricklin D, Lambris JD. Nat Biotechnol. 2007;25:1265-1275. 14. Rother RP, Bell L, Hillmen P, et al .JAMA. 2005;293:1653-1662. 15. Hill A, Kelly R, Hillmen P. Blood. 2013;121:4985-4996.