Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (Pnh): Brain Mri Ischemic Lesions In Neurologically Asymtomatic Patients

Abstract

This study investigated for the first time brain ischemic involvement in 19 consecutive neurologically asymptomatic PNH patients by non-enhanced cerebral MRI, and by intracranial arterial and venous angio-MRI. Eleven cases (58%, 7 aged <65) showed pathological findings: 9 white matter (WM) abnormalities related to chronic ischemic small vessel disease, 2 a focal abnormality >5 mm, and 5 cases a score >4 by the age-related white matter changes (ARWMC) scale. Compared with age and sex-matched controls (1:2 ratio), patients showed an increased frequency of periventricular WM vascular degeneration (32% versus 5.2%, p = 0.04) and of severe lesions (ARWMC scale score >4) (26% versus 2.6%, p = 0.05), and a higher overall ARWMC scale score (3.5 ± 1.07 versus 2.0 ± 0.8, mean ± SD, p < 0.0001). Notably, vascular abnormalities suspected for prior partial venous thrombosis, were observed in PNH cases only. MRI lesions were not related to blood counts, hemolytic markers, clone size, disease duration, and therapy with eculizumab. Neurological examination was unremarkable in all patients but one (Parkinson disease). Psychiatric assessment revealed a case of generalized anxiety disorder, 1 bipolar disorder type 2, and 1 adjustment disorder. In conclusion, brain MRI may be useful at diagnosis and during the course of the disease to explore subclinical neurological involvement.

Figure 1

Pathological brain MRI findings in PNH patients. (A) White Matter Changes (ARWMC scale, see Materials and Methods) (B). The T2 weighted axial image shows several t2 focal hyperintensities of WM due to chronic microinfarcts (patient N.10); (C) The FLAIR axial image shows periventricular hyperintensity due to vascular chronic degeneration (patient N. 7); (D) The Phase Contrast acquisition shows the asymmetry of venous sinuses with irregular walls of the right transverse sinus that can be due to a previously occurred venous thrombosis (patient N. 1). Control population (n = 38) findings: 9 leukoaraiosis, 19 deep WM focal chronic ischemic lesions (n = 5, score 1; n = 10, score 2; n = 3, score 3; n = 1, score 4); a lesion > 5mm was observed in 2 subjects aged 53 and 83 years.