[Rare case of a pregnancy in a woman with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Case report]

Abstract

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria is a rare hematological disease. It is associated with increased maternal and fetal complications to such an extent that pregnancy has been considered relatively contraindicated in woman with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria. Recently, eculizumab, a monoclonal antibody, has been shown to decrease complications during pregnancies. The highest risk is thromboembolic complication and, therefore, anticoagulant is a standard therapy during pregnancy. In the presented case, a 29-year-old woman with a 5-year history of paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria had a pregnancy. It was her first pregnancy and was complicated by a sinus thrombosis at the 11th gestational week. After the introduction of eculizumab treatment, the remaining period of pregnancy and delivery were uncomplicated. There are only a few cases in the literature about pregnancy in woman with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria who are treated with eculizumab. This monoclonal antibody seems to be safe and it likely prevents many of the complications otherwise observed.

Keywords: paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria; paroxysmalis nocturnalis heamoglobinuria; pregnancy; thrombosis; várandósság.