What is paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria?

Also known as: PNH.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is a rare, dangerous, acquired blood disorder during which unpredictable episodes of blood red cell breakdown occurs, the bone marrow stops making new blood cells and blood clots.

It's called PNH because the breakdown products of the red cells, hemoglobin, which are excreted in the urine, make the urine dark.


Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: 1/29/2019 3:21:13 PM

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