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Continuous Manual Exchange Transfusion for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease: An Efficient Method to Avoid Iron Overload
Published on: March 14, 2017
Plasmapheresis with exchange as primary treatment for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
E S Dayoan1, A C Dixon, E Rizzo
1John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu.
Abstract:
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is an uncommon disorder characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, fever and renal and neurologic dysfunction. As a result of the availability of plasmapheresis, we can report the results of 5 patients treated with plasmapheresis and exchange transfusion who also received intravenous corticosteroids as adjunctive therapy. Our 5 patients had a mean age of 41 years, and presented with a mean platelet count of 39 x 10(9)/L. Four of the 5 patients responded to treatment and were discharged in excellent condition. The 5th patient succumbed to her disease. We concluded that plasmapheresis with exchange transfusion is a rapid and effective therapy for TTP.
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