A retrospective study of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria in pediatric and adolescent patients

  • Angela Mercuri
  • , Piero Farruggia
  • , Fabio Timeus
  • , Laura Lombardi
  • , Daniela Onofrillo
  • , Maria Caterina Putti
  • , Marta Pillon
  • , Maria Elena Cantarini
  • , Paola Corti
  • , Gloria Tridello
  • , Massimiliano De Bortoli
  • , Anna Pegoraro
  • , Simone Cesaro

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare disease, especially in children, characterized by intravascular hemolysis, thrombotic events, serious infections and bone marrow failure. We describe 16 patients who were diagnosed with PNH in childhood or adolescence. The time interval between the onset of symptoms and the PNH diagnosis and its treatment were compared in patients with classic PNH versus PNH associated with bone marrow disorder (PNH/BMD). A greater delay in diagnosis was observed in classic PNH compared to PNH/BMD patients. The first group of patients had higher levels of LDH, total bilirubin and absolute reticulocyte count and a bigger PNH clone size compared to PNH/BMD patients; also thrombotic events were observed only in the classic form of PNH. Conversely, PNH/BMD patients showed lower median levels of platelets. Apart from standard supportive measures, four patients with classic PNH received eculizumab whereas four patients with PNH/BMD underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Our series confirm that the most frequent presentation of PNH in the pediatric-adolescent age is PNH/BMD. The delay between the onset of symptoms and PNH diagnosis is relevant principally in the classic form. Moreover, our study showed that any case of unexpected thrombosis represents a criterium to perform a PNH screening.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)45-50
Number of pages6
JournalBlood Cells, Molecules, and Diseases
Volume64
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 May 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Intravascular hemolysis
  • Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
  • Pediatric, adolescent

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A retrospective study of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria in pediatric and adolescent patients'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this