Púrpura trombótico trombocitopénico: Revisión de la literatura a partir de 18 casos

Translated title of the contribution: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Experience in 18 cases and literature review

Gonzalo L. Eymin, Maricarmen A. Andrade, Max H. Andresen, Jaime G. Pereira

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is characterized by anemia, thrombocytopenia, neurological and renal involvement of variable severity and it has a dismal prognosis. Platelet-derived von Willebrand Factor-cleaving metalloprotease ADAMTS-13 activity may orient the diagnosis, but normal levels do not discard it. The most effective therapy thus known is plasmapheresis. Aim: To report the experience in 18 patients with TTP. Material and methods: Retrospective assessment of 11 patients and prospective assessment of seven subjects with TTP, aged 15 to 81 years. Results: All presented with anemia, thrombocytopenia and LDH elevation. Sixteen had neurological symptoms, five had fever, four had macroscopic urinary excretion of pigments, four had petechiae, and two had nosebleeds. Haptoglobin was low in 10 of 11 patients in whom it was measured. ADAMTS13 had low activity in 15 of 17 patients (in 11, the inhibitor was found). Seventeen patients were treated with plasmapheresis and nine received steroids also. Seven patients died due to shock with respiratory involvement or multiple organic failure. Conclusions: TTP has heterogeneous modes of presentation. If the diagnosis is strongly suspected, plasmapheresis can be started without laboratory confirmation. An ADAMTS-13 activity below 6% is almost exclusive of TTP (Rev Méd Chile 2008; 136: 1518-27).

Translated title of the contributionThrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Experience in 18 cases and literature review
Original languageSpanish
Pages (from-to)1518-1527
Number of pages10
JournalRevista Medica de Chile
Volume136
Issue number12
StatePublished - Dec 2008
Externally publishedYes

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