BJH - volume 11, issue 6, october 2020
E. Roose PhD, S. Deconinck , C. Dekimpe , A. Curie , SF. De Meyer PhD, K. VanHoorelbeke PhD, D. Dierickx MD, PhD
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare and life-threatening thrombotic microangiopathic disorder (TMA) due to a severe deficiency of ADAMTS13 (A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease with Thrombo-Spondin type 1 repeats, member 13). The deficiency in ADAMTS13 can either be caused by mutations in ADAMTS13 (congenital TTP or Upshaw-Schulman syndrome, cTTP) or by anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibodies (immune-mediated TTP, iTTP). Diagnosis of TTP is challenging but crucial for the survival of the patient. TTP should be suspected when microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia and severe thrombocytopenia are observed. A severely decreased ADAMTS13 activity (activity <10%) should confirm the diagnosis of TTP. Standard treatment of TTP is plasma therapy (plasma exchange for iTTP, while plasma infusion for cTTP), but novel therapeutics like rituximab, caplacizumab and recombinant ADAMTS13 show promising results regarding the recovery and sustained remission of TTP patients. However, although major advances have been made in the management of TTP, TTP is a chronic disease and patients still relapse, careful and stringent patient follow-up is needed to improve the patients’ quality of life.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2020;11(6):253-60)
Read more
Top
To provide the best experiences, we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site and show (non-) personalized ads. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time, including withdrawing your consent, by using the toggles on the Cookie Policy, or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen.
