A Rare and Misdiagnosed Entity Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria: A Case Report

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare, acquired stem cell disorder manifesting as non-immunological hemolytic anemia, hemoglobinuria, unusual thrombosis, and renal impairment due to deficiency of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) linked proteins in red blood cells. Patients present with features of chronic non-immune intravascular hemolysis, unexplained anemia, and thrombosis at unusual sites. It is often misdiagnosed and treated as anemia due to a low degree of suspicion. In resource-limited settings, the low degree of suspicion and paucity of investigations are the major diagnostic challenges. The even bigger challenge remains in the affordability of definitive treatment after a diagnosis has been made. Herein, we present a case of PNH in a 26-year man from rural Nepal who went undetected during the initial presentation of hemolytic anemia and later presented to us with hemolytic anemia and gastrointestinal symptoms. We made the provisional diagnosis based on the clinical presentations. However, we faced challenges in reaching the final diagnosis and providing the definitive treatment due to financial constraints and limited resources. Any patient presenting with features of chronic non-immune intravascular hemolysis, unexplained anemia, and unusual thrombosis should prompt the consideration of PNH.