Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria. Diagnosis by acetylcholinesterase and Ham's test in different cell populations

In the present communication, data are presented on Ham's test, ACE and other enzyme activities in the various red cell age groups of three patients with PNH and six control patients with acquired non PNH hemolytic anemia. It is clear that while the ACE activity in the total cell population may be within the normal range the activity in the youngest cells is evidently very low. This finding differentiates between the red cells of PNH and those of other hemolytic anemias with membrane damage. The results of Ham's test in the various PNH fractions correlated with ACE activity in the fraction.