Abstract
Pyruvate kinase deficiency is a chronic illness with age specific consequences. Newborns suffer life-threatening hemolytic crisis and hyperbilirubinemia. Adults are at risk for infections because of asplenia, pregnancy-related morbidity, and may suffer organ damage because of systemic iron overload. We describe 27 Old Order Amish patients (ages 8 months-52 years) homozygous for c.1436G>A mutations in PKLR. Each subject had a predictable neonatal course requiring packed red blood cell transfusions (30 +/- 5 mL/kg) to control hemolytic disease and intensive phototherapy to prevent kernicterus. Hemochromatosis affected 29% (n = 4) of adult patients, who had inappropriately normal serum hepcidin (34.5 +/- 12.7 ng/mL) and GDF-15 (595 +/- 335pg/mL) relative to hyperferritinemia (769 +/- 595 mg/dL). A high prevalence of HFE gene mutations exists in this population and may contribute to iron-related morbidity. Based on our observations, we present a strategy for long-term management of pyruvate kinase deficiency. Am. J. Hematol. 86:827-834, 2011. (C) 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 827-834 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | American Journal of Hematology |
Volume | 86 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Oct 2011 |