Megaloblastic Crisis in Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria

Abstract

PAROXYSMAL nocturnal hemoglobinuria is a rarely recognized cause of hemolytic anemia. Although the exact etiology remains obscure, the erythrocytes develop a defect that sensitizes them to increased destruction in an acid medium.^{1 , 2} It is becoming more evident that the disease must be considered in the differential diagnoses of many illnesses because of its variable clinical manifestations.³ In the case reported below, an "aplastic-megaloblastic" crisis was accompanied by hemolysis. The development of a megaloblastic maturation arrest in the course of chronic hemolytic anemias, both congenital and acquired, is being recognized more frequently,^{4 5 6 7} and has recently been summarized by Lindenbaum and Klipstein. . . .