The Role of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria in Idiopathic Habitual Abortion

Abstract

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) which is an acquired clonal hematopoietic stem cell disease, usually presents with intravascular hemolysis, thrombosis and bone marrow failure. Hereditary and acquired thrombophilia are known to play significant role in the etiology of patients with habitual abortion (HA). PNH, which is a cause of acquired thrombophilia, may have a role in the etiology of HA. In the present study, we investigated the presence of PNH clone among the patients with a history of HA. 150 patients were enrolled in the study group, diagnosed with habitual abortus of unknown etiology and 150 healthy women with no history of habitual abortus as a control group. The age range for both groups was 18–55 years. The PNH clone was screened by the FLAER (fluorescein-labeled proaerolysin) method. The PNH clone was positive in five (3.3%) patients in the study group. Four of the PNH clone positive patie nts were found to have a very low clone positivity level (0.05%, 0.24%, 0.12%, 0.21%), while one had a high level (30%). PNH clone positivity results in the study group indicate that PNH should be investigated in cases of idiopathic HA, as one patient required treatment. © 2017, Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Tip Fakultesi. All rights reserved.