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Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

PNH

Symptoms:

• Abdominal pain
• Back pain
• Blood clots -- may form in some people
• Dark urine -- comes and goes
• Easy bruising or bleeding
• Headache
• Shortness of breath

Signs and tests:

Red and white blood cell counts and platelet counts may be low.

Red or brown urine signals the breakdown of red blood cells and that hemoglobin is being released into the body's circulation and eventually into the urine.

Tests that may be done to diagnose this condition may include:

• Complete blood count (CBC)
• Coombes' test
• Flow cytometry to measure certain proteins
• Ham's (acid hemolysin) test
• Urinalysis
• Serum hemoglobin and haptoglobin
• Sucrose hemolysis test

References:

US Food and Drug Administration. FDA Approves First-of-its-Kind Drug to Treat Rare Blood Disorder . Rockville, MD: National Press Office; March 16, 2007. Release P07-47.

Hillmen P, Young NS, Schubert J, et al. The complement inhibitor eculizumab in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. N Engl J Med . 2006 Sep 21;355(12):1233-43.

• Review Date: 3/22/2007
• Reviewed By: Corey Cutler, M.D., M.P.H., F.R.C.P.C, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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