Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: Issues in Diagnosis and Treatment

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a hematologic emergency fatal without prompt treatment. Plasma exchange (PEX), the treatment of choice for TTP, is not readily available and has major complications. We report seven cases of TTP, both acquired immune and secondary. Two patients had TTP secondary to malignancy and one secondary to SLE. Male to female ratio was 1:3 and median age at presentation 38 years. Six patients had moderate to very high level of LDH while one primary TTP had only mild elevation. Median haemoglobin and platelet at presentation were 6.3 gm/dL and 38 k/UL respectively. Median LDH value was 4595 u/L. All patients were treated with plasma exchange (PEX) except the two cases secondary to malignancy. One patient died of cardiac arrest during plasma exchange. None of the patients treated with PEX had relapsed over a median follow up of 18 months.