[Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura after administration of ticlopidine]

On June 29, 1995, a 49-year-old man was admitted with acute onset of fever, petechiae on his legs, and mental confusion He had suffered hypertension since 6 months previously and was on nicardipine (60 mg/day), ifenprodil (60 mg/day) and ticlopidine (300 mg/day). He had been on ticlopidine for 4 weeks and on the other drugs for 6 months. Soon after admission he had frequent grand mal seizures and needed mechanical ventilation. A diagnosis of TTP was made. He was treated with plasmapheresis (50 ml/kg per day), aspirin 81 mg/day and dipyridamole 300 mg/day. On the sixth day his mental status returned to normal. He recovered gradually from microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and elevated serum creatinine. We reviewed the literature and discussed the possible mechanism of TTP related to the use of ticlopidine.