MEMBRANE-PROTEINS IN PAROXYSMAL-NOCTURNAL HEMOGLOBINURIA

A review of recent information on the abnormalities of the blood cell membrane in paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) is presented, w ith a detailed analysis of biochemical and flow cytometry findings. Th e complex patterns observed in the various cell lineages of which the PNH clone consists are described, and a simplified monoclonal antibody panel is defined for diagnostic purposes. Available data on in vitro culture of progenitor cells and on the recent establishment of PNH cel l lines are summarized. Finally, we discuss speculative hypotheses on the growth advantage of the PNH clone.