Rare Gastroenterology News

Advertisement

Disease Profile

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

Prevalence
Prevalence estimates on Rare Medical Network websites are calculated based on data available from numerous sources, including US and European government statistics, the NIH, Orphanet, and published epidemiologic studies. Rare disease population data is recognized to be highly variable, and based on a wide variety of source data and methodologies, so the prevalence data on this site should be assumed to be estimated and cannot be considered to be absolutely correct.

1-9 / 100 000

US Estimated

Europe Estimated

Age of onset

All ages

ageofonset-all.svg

ICD-10

D59.5

Inheritance

Autosomal dominant A pathogenic variant in only one gene copy in each cell is sufficient to cause an autosomal dominant disease.

no.svg

Autosomal recessive Pathogenic variants in both copies of each gene of the chromosome are needed to cause an autosomal recessive disease and observe the mutant phenotype.

no.svg

X-linked
dominant X-linked dominant inheritance, sometimes referred to as X-linked dominance, is a mode of genetic inheritance by which a dominant gene is carried on the X chromosome.

no.svg

X-linked
recessive Pathogenic variants in both copies of a gene on the X chromosome cause an X-linked recessive disorder.

no.svg

Mitochondrial or multigenic Mitochondrial genetic disorders can be caused by changes (mutations) in either the mitochondrial DNA or nuclear DNA that lead to dysfunction of the mitochondria and inadequate production of energy.

no.svg

Multigenic or multifactor Inheritance involving many factors, of which at least one is genetic but none is of overwhelming importance, as in the causation of a disease by multiple genetic and environmental factors.

no.svg

Not applicable

no.svg

Other names (AKA)

PNH; Marchiafava-Micheli disease

Categories

Blood Diseases; Congenital and Genetic Diseases; Metabolic disorders

Summary

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired disorder that leads to the premature death and impaired production of blood cells. It can occur at any age, but is usually diagnosed in young adulthood. People with PNH have recurring episodes of symptoms due to hemolysis, which may be triggered by stresses on the body such as infections or physical exertion. This results in a deficiency of various types of blood cells and can cause signs and symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, abnormally pale skin (pallor), shortness of breath, and an increased heart rate. People with PNH may also be prone to infections and abnormal blood clotting (thrombosis) or hemorrhage, and are at increased risk of developing leukemia. It is caused by acquired, rather than inheritedmutations in the PIGA gene; the condition is not passed down to children of affected individuals. Sometimes, people who have been treated for aplastic anemia may develop PNH.[1] The treatment of PNH is largely based on symptoms; stem cell transplantation is typically reserved for severe cases of PNH with aplastic anemia or those whose develop leukemia.[2]

Symptoms

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Fatigue
Tired
Tiredness

[ more ]

0012378
Hemolytic anemia
0001878
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Bone marrow hypocellularity
Bone marrow failure
0005528
Hypercoagulability
0100724
Thromboembolism
0001907
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Abdominal pain
Pain in stomach
Stomach pain

[ more ]

0002027
Abnormal bleeding
Bleeding tendency
0001892
Abnormal renal physiology
Abnormal kidney function
Kidney function issue

[ more ]

0012211
Angina pectoris
0001681
Aplastic anemia
0001915
Cerebral artery stenosis
Narrowing of a cerebral artery
0012492
Dysphagia
Poor swallowing
Swallowing difficulties
Swallowing difficulty

[ more ]

0002015
Hemoglobinuria
Hemoglobin in urine
0003641
Hypoplastic anemia
0001908
Muscle weakness
Muscular weakness
0001324
Myelodysplasia
0002863
Myocardial infarction
Heart attack
0001658
Pallor
0000980
Pulmonary arterial hypertension
Increased blood pressure in blood vessels of lungs
0002092
Pulmonary embolism
Blood clot in artery of lung
0002204
Transient ischemic attack
Mini stroke
0002326
1%-4% of people have these symptoms
Acute myeloid leukemia
0004808
Percent of people who have these symptoms is not available through HPO
Arthralgia
Joint pain
0002829
Autosomal dominant inheritance
0000006
Diarrhea
Watery stool
0002014
Dyspnea
Trouble breathing
0002094
Headache
Headaches
0002315
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
0004818
Somatic mutation
0001428
Urticaria
Hives
0001025

Treatment

The resources below provide information about treatment options for this condition. If you have questions about which treatment is right for you, talk to your healthcare professional.

Management Guidelines

  • Orphanet Emergency Guidelines is an article which is expert-authored and peer-reviewed that is intended to guide health care professionals in emergency situations involving this condition.
  • Project OrphanAnesthesia is a project whose aim is to create peer-reviewed, readily accessible guidelines for patients with rare diseases and for the anesthesiologists caring for them. The project is a collaborative effort of the German Society of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Orphanet, the European Society of Pediatric Anesthesia, anesthetists and rare disease experts with the aim to contribute to patient safety.

    FDA-Approved Treatments

    The medication(s) listed below have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as orphan products for treatment of this condition. Learn more orphan products.

    Organizations

    Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

    Organizations Supporting this Disease

      Organizations Providing General Support

        Learn more

        These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

        Where to Start

        • MedlinePlus was designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, and it provides more information about this topic.
        • Genetics Home Reference (GHR) contains information on Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. This website is maintained by the National Library of Medicine.
        • The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library provides information on this condition for patients and caregivers.
        • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) has a report for patients and families about this condition. NORD is a patient advocacy organization for individuals with rare diseases and the organizations that serve them.

          In-Depth Information

          • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
          • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
          • Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) is a catalog of human genes and genetic disorders. Each entry has a summary of related medical articles. It is meant for health care professionals and researchers. OMIM is maintained by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 
            Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria 1
            Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria 2
          • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
          • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

            References

            1. Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Genetics Home Reference. May 2007; https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/paroxysmal-nocturnal-hemoglobinuria. Accessed 1/15/2011.
            2. Emmanuel C Besa and Ulrich Woermann. Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria. eMedicine. March 27, 2009; https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/207468-overview. Accessed 1/15/2011.