Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria in Children

Introduction to Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria in Children

Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare, acquired hematopoietic stem cell disorder characterized by complement-mediated intravascular hemolysis. While primarily affecting adults, PNH can occur in children and adolescents, presenting unique diagnostic and management challenges.

Key points:

  • Incidence: Approximately 1-1.5 cases per million population per year
  • Pediatric cases: Account for about 10% of all PNH cases
  • Age of onset: Can occur at any age, but pediatric cases typically present in late childhood or adolescence
  • Gender distribution: Equal in children, unlike adult PNH which has a slight female predominance


Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria in Children
  1. QUESTION: What is the primary defect in Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)?
    ANSWER: Deficiency of GPI-anchored proteins on blood cells
  2. QUESTION: Which gene mutation is responsible for PNH?
    ANSWER: PIGA gene mutation
  3. QUESTION: What is the typical age of onset for PNH in children?
    ANSWER: Adolescence or young adulthood
  4. QUESTION: Which of the following is NOT a classic symptom of PNH?
    ANSWER: Joint pain
  5. QUESTION: What is the primary mechanism of hemolysis in PNH?
    ANSWER: Complement-mediated destruction of red blood cells
  6. QUESTION: Which test is considered the gold standard for diagnosing PNH?
    ANSWER: Flow cytometry
  7. QUESTION: What percentage of cells typically need to be affected for clinical manifestations of PNH to occur?
    ANSWER: Greater than 10%
  8. QUESTION: Which of the following is a common complication of PNH?
    ANSWER: Thrombosis
  9. QUESTION: What is the most common site of thrombosis in PNH patients?
    ANSWER: Hepatic veins (Budd-Chiari syndrome)
  10. QUESTION: Which of the following laboratory findings is characteristic of PNH?
    ANSWER: Elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
  11. QUESTION: What is the primary treatment for PNH?
    ANSWER: Complement inhibitor therapy (e.g., eculizumab)
  12. QUESTION: Which of the following is NOT a common indication for initiating treatment in PNH?
    ANSWER: Asymptomatic disease
  13. QUESTION: What is the mechanism of action of eculizumab in treating PNH?
    ANSWER: Inhibition of terminal complement activation
  14. QUESTION: Which vaccination is crucial before starting eculizumab therapy?
    ANSWER: Meningococcal vaccine
  15. QUESTION: What is the only potentially curative treatment for PNH?
    ANSWER: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
  16. QUESTION: Which of the following is a risk factor for developing PNH?
    ANSWER: Aplastic anemia
  17. QUESTION: What is the typical pattern of hemoglobinuria in PNH?
    ANSWER: Intermittent and often nocturnal
  18. QUESTION: Which of the following is NOT a typical finding in the urine of PNH patients?
    ANSWER: Proteinuria
  19. QUESTION: What is the estimated incidence of PNH?
    ANSWER: 1-2 cases per million population per year
  20. QUESTION: Which of the following cell lines is typically NOT affected in PNH?
    ANSWER: Lymphocytes
  21. QUESTION: What is the role of CD55 and CD59 proteins in normal red blood cells?
    ANSWER: Protection against complement-mediated lysis
  22. QUESTION: Which of the following is a potential complication of chronic hemolysis in PNH?
    ANSWER: Pulmonary hypertension
  23. QUESTION: What is the term for the presence of free hemoglobin in the urine?
    ANSWER: Hemoglobinuria
  24. QUESTION: Which of the following is NOT a typical feature of bone marrow in PNH patients?
    ANSWER: Fibrosis
  25. QUESTION: What is the typical life expectancy of untreated PNH patients?
    ANSWER: 10-15 years from diagnosis
  26. QUESTION: Which of the following is a potential trigger for hemolytic episodes in PNH?
    ANSWER: Infections
  27. QUESTION: What is the term for the presence of red blood cells with varying sensitivity to complement?
    ANSWER: PNH mosaicism
  28. QUESTION: Which of the following is NOT a typical laboratory finding in PNH?
    ANSWER: Elevated white blood cell count
  29. QUESTION: What is the role of iron supplementation in PNH patients?
    ANSWER: To treat iron deficiency due to chronic hemolysis and urinary iron loss
  30. QUESTION: Which of the following is a potential long-term complication of PNH?
    ANSWER: Chronic kidney disease


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