Reactive haemolysis test in paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria

The sensitivity to the reactive lysis of normal, PNH and PNH like cells was studied and quantitated either on agarose plates or spectrophotometrically. The PNH and PNH like cells are particularly sensitive in this haemolytic system which represents, for this reason, a new diagnostic method for PNH. Since the AR (C5-C6 complex) was found in a PNH patient, the possible role of this alternative complement pathway in triggering the haemolytic crisis in these patients is discussed.