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Updated: Aug 15, 2025

Prehospital Thrombolysis: A Manual from Berlin
Published on: November 26, 2013
[Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura-a differential diagnostic challenge in an emergency]
Fedai Özcan1, Martin Köhrmann2, Sirak Petros3
1Klinik für Nephrologie, Klinikum Dortmund, Universität Witten-Herdecke, Beurhausstr. 40, 44137, Dortmund, Deutschland. fedai.oezcan@klinikumdo.de.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), which comprises thrombocytopenia, elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels, and anemia in the combination of organ involvement, is a rare but life-threatening condition associated with an extremely high lethality in the acute phase if left untreated. Using the example of a 49-year-old woman admitted to the hospital with unexplained abdominal symptoms and subfebrile temperatures, recommendations for the emergency situation are presented. Increased awareness of the disease and targeted further diagnostics with determination of the PLASMIC score or ADAMTS13 activity may lead directly to diagnosis of TTP; delayed diagnosis is usually associated with secondary complications.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), which comprises thrombocytopenia, elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels, and anemia in the combination of organ involvement, is a rare but life-threatening condition associated with an extremely high lethality in the acute phase if left untreated. Using the example of a 49-year-old woman admitted to the hospital with unexplained abdominal symptoms and subfebrile temperatures, recommendations for the emergency situation are presented. Increased awareness of the disease and targeted further diagnostics with determination of the PLASMIC score or ADAMTS13 activity may lead directly to diagnosis of TTP; delayed diagnosis is usually associated with secondary complications.
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