Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare and serious blood disease that causes red blood cells to break apart called “hemolysis”. It happens because blood cells are missing a protein that protects them from the body’s immune system. When red blood cells break apart, the hemoglobin inside them is released.
Hemoglobin is the red part of red blood cells. Its job is to carry oxygen around the body. The release of hemoglobin causes most PNH symptoms. Hemolysis can put a patient at risk for serious health problems.
A rare disease, the worldwide prevalence of PNH is estimated in the range of 1–5 cases per million, regardless of ethnicity. The disease can affect people of any age. It may be associated with aplastic anemia, Myelodysplastic syndromes, or acute myelogenous leukemia