[Management of pregnancy and delivery in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria]

Rinsho Ketsueki. 2015 Jul;56(7):785-94. doi: 10.11406/rinketsu.56.785.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare hemolytic anemia, which generally affects women of childbearing age. PNH hemolysis increases the risk of complications such as thrombosis during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Management of a pregnant woman with PNH remains a challenge due to the high incidence of thrombotic complications and the difficulty of differentiating a PNH crisis from the complications of pregnancy. PNH is associated with an increased rate of premature labor and fetal loss. Eculizumab, a C5 complement inhibitor, is a potential therapeutic option for such patients. This review presents the current strategies for the management of pregnant women with PNH, the cases experienced in our hospital, and the recently proposed remedy guide regarding the management of pregnancy in cases with PNH by the Pregnancy Working Group of The Japan PNH Interest group.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use
  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / drug therapy*
  • Pregnancy Outcome

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Anticoagulants
  • eculizumab