Rivista di formazione e aggiornamento professionale del pediatra e del medico di base, fondata nel 1982. In collaborazione con l'Associazione Culturale Pediatri.
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Emoglobinuria parossistica a frigore: è davvero così rara?

PAROXYSMAL COLD HEMOGLOBINURIA: IS IT REALLY THAT RARE?

Maria Pia Esposto1, Sabrina Genesini2, Matteo Chinello1, Vincenza Pezzella1, Elisa Bonetti1, Ada Zaccaron1, Giulia Caddeo1, Virginia Vitale1, Chiara Guardo1, Simone Cesaro1
1Unità di Oncoematologia Pediatrica,
2Unità di Medicina Trasfusionale, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona

Novembre 2025 | DOI: 10.53126/MEBXXVIIIN231

Abstract
Paroxysmal Cold Haemoglobinuria (PCH) is considered the rarest form of autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA), although it is likely underdiagnosed. It is caused by biphasic haemolysins, known as Donath-Landsteiner antibodies, which bind to erythrocytes at 4°C and trigger complement-mediated lysis at 37°C. In the paediatric population, PCH is typically preceded by an upper respiratory tract infection caused by common pathogens. The resulting intravascular haemolysis often leads to acute and severe anaemia, which is usually self-limiting. Diagnosis requires performing the Donath-Landsteiner test in cases of AIHA with a direct antiglobulin test (DAT) positive for C3, in the presence of a clinical history suggestive of PCH. Treatment is mainly supportive and transfusions are generally well tolerated. Most of the available data on PCH derive from case reports and case series, with a lack of large-scale studies. The paper presents two cases diagnosed over the past three years and compares their diagnoses and managements with the existing literature.
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