PAROXYSMAL NOCTURNAL

Overview and Facts

Paroxysmal nocturnal is an uncommon and life-threatening blood disorder. Hemolytic anemia (red blood cell destruction), blood clots (thrombosis), and reduced bone marrow function are all symptoms of the condition (not making enough of the three blood components). Paroxysmal is a condition that primarily affects young individuals and affects 1-1.5 people per million. The average age of diagnosis is 35-40 years old, with some cases being diagnosed as early as childhood or adolescence. 

Aplastic anemia and Paroxysmal nocturnal are tightly linked. Aplastic anemia is the cause of up to 30% of newly diagnosed cases of Paroxysmal . Similarly, after using immunosuppressive drugs for aplastic anemia (anti-thymocyte globulin and cyclosporine), the risk of getting Paroxysmal nocturnal syndrome is about 20-30%. After a diagnosis, the typical survival time is ten years; however, some people might live for decades with just modest symptoms.

Types and Symptoms

SYMPTOMS

Because of the wide range of symptoms associated with paroxysmal nocturnal insomnia, it is not uncommon for months or even years to pass before a clear diagnosis is obtained. The following are the most prevalent (PN) symptoms:

  • Fever 
  • Shortness of breath
  • Bruising or bleeding easily
  • Severe headache
  • Blood clots (thrombosis)
  • Fatigue  or weakness
  • Recurring infections and flu-like symptoms
  • Difficulty in controlling bleeding, even from minor wounds
  • Tiny red dots on the skin

Diagnosis & Medications

DIAGNOSIS

If your doctor suspects you have paroxysmal nocturnal insomnia, they may prescribe several blood tests to confirm the diagnosis. Flow cytometry has been the gold standard for diagnosing cancer during the last few years. Clinicians can use this laboratory technique to count blood cells in a sample.

TREATMENT

The severity of the symptoms determines the best treatment for paroxysmal nocturnal bleeding. Some people with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria have no symptoms and don’t require treatment beyond folic acid and iron supplementation to aid in red blood cell production. Depending on the severity of the patient’s symptoms, the disease may deteriorate over time, necessitating increasingly intensive supportive care.

Oral birth control pills, for example, should be avoided because they increase the risk of thrombosis. Like aplastic anemia, paroxysmal nocturnal anemia is frequently linked with bone marrow loss, resulting in extremely low blood levels. Patients may react to anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG), but they will almost always need red blood cell or platelet transfusions. Other treatments are:

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