Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency Foundation

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Phone: 410-409-0033

PYRUVATE KINASE DEFICIENCY FOUNDATION CELEBRATES FIRST ANNUAL PKD DAY AND RARE DISEASE DAY IN FEBRUARY

WOLVERINE LAKE, MI, February 14, 2022 - The newly launched Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency Foundation (PKDF) celebrated the first national PK Deficiency Day on February 14 following National Blood Donor Month in January and leading up to Rare Disease Day® on February 28.

Along with opening their online store and holding grassroots fundraising events, the PKDF has also partnered with America’s Blood Centers® to give back a percentage of their month long fund raising to the nation’s community blood centers where many PK Deficiency patients, primarily babies and children, are transfused as frequently as every 2-4 weeks.

Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency is a rare congenital disorder characterized by diminished activity of the PK enzyme in red blood cells. Low PK enzyme activity can lead to lifelong chronic hemolysis and associated symptoms and complications such as anemia, jaundice, gallstones, thrombosis, and iron overload. It affects between 3.2 and 8.5 per million in Western populations, while the prevalence of diagnosed and undiagnosed PK deficiency could possibly be as high as 51 per million.

“PK Deficiency became a named diagnosis in 1961 and on the 60th anniversary of this rare disease, we have launched the first Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency Foundation dedicated to advancing awareness, improving diagnostic guidelines and outcomes and providing support to those with the disease.” states Carla Kane, RN, Co-founder and interim Executive Director.

To learn more, visit www.pkdf.org

The Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency Foundation (PKDF) is a public charity established in 2021 and tax exempt under IRS section 501(c)(3).