Acute renal failure in a patient with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria

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Published on: October 28, 2022

M D Jose1, K L Lynn

  • 1Department of Nephrology, Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand.

Clinical Nephrology
|August 28, 2001
PubMed

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is an acquired disorder characterized by low-grade, chronic hemolytic anemia accompanied by either thrombocytopenia or leucopenia. Kidney involvement is usually benign and secondary to chronic tubular deposition of hemosiderin. Acute renal failure may occur in association with a hemolytic crisis. We report the case of a 70-year-old Caucasian woman with PNH who developed reversible acute renal failure requiring hemodialysis following a gastointestinal illness. Renal biopsy demonstrated acute tubular necrosis with considerable hemosiderin deposition, but no evidence of vascular thrombosis.

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