Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Aka: Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, TTP
II. Epidemiology
- Peak age 30 to 40 years old
- Slightly more common in women
- Rare: 4 to 11 cases per year per 1 million people per year in the United States
III. Pathophysiology
- ADAMTS13 Protease dysfunction
- Von Willebrand Factor (vWF) is exposed when intravascular injury occurs
- vWF is analogous to a net that traps platelets, forming a transient plug
- The plug is typically limited and stops bleeding without thrombosing the vessel
- ADAMTS13 normally cleaves the long chain Von Willebrand Factor (vWF), thus limiting the plug
- When ADAMTS13 is defective or absent, vWF forms traps large complexes of platelets
- Vessel blocks with these large complexes of vWF and platelets resulting in thrombosis
- ADAMTS13 deficiency predisposes to TTP
- ADAMTS13 deficiency may be acquired or via genetic mutation (Upshaw-Schulman Syndrome)
- Those with ADAMTS13 deficiency may develop TTP in response to stress or infection
- Von Willebrand Factor (vWF) is exposed when intravascular injury occurs
- Overlap with several Gastroenteritis related conditions
- Shiga-toxin Enterocolitis
- Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (E. coli 0157:H7 esp. in children)
IV. Risk Factors
- Obesity
- African American
- Female gender
- HIV Infection
- Rheumatologic Disease
- Clopidogrel (Plavix)
V. Symptoms
VI. Signs: Classic Presentation
- Triad: Most common presentation (75% of cases)
- Thrombocytopenic Purpura
- Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemia
- Neurologic changes (Seizures, Transient Ischemic Attack) at presentation or prior and resolved
- Additional features as part of full classic presentation (5 features present in less than a third of patients)
VII. Signs
- Fever (90% of cases)
- Skin
- Neurologic changes (often transient effects due to unstable platelet clots)
- Abdominal exam
- Splenomegaly (most patients with TTP)
VIII. Differential Diagnosis
- See Thrombocytopenia
- See Hemolytic Anemia
- Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
- Most common in children (esp. 6 months to 4 years old)
- Children rarely have TTP without HUS, but adults can uncommonly present with HUS during outbreaks
- Presents as TTP and Acute Renal Failure, bloody Diarrhea and Abdominal Pain
- Associated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infection (E Coli 0157)
- Most common in children (esp. 6 months to 4 years old)
- Evans Syndrome
- Thromboyctopenia with Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemia (MAHA)
- However ADAMTS levels are normal
- Treated with Corticosteroids
- Better prognosis than standard Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
IX. Labs: Initial
- Complete Blood Count
- Platelet Count <50,000
- Hemoglobin <10 g/dl
- Acute Kidney Injury
- Serum Creatinine increased (severe cases)
- Hemolysis
- Unconjugated Bilirubin increased
- Urinalysis
- Peripheral Smear with Hemolysis signs (obtain on all patients suspected for TTP)
- Schistocytes (RBC fragments) suggests Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemia (MAHA)
- MAHA is also seen in Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
X. Labs: Specific
- ADAMTS13 Levels (including activity and inhibitors) decreased
- Von Willebrand Factor gel electrophoresis
XI. Diagnosis
- See Plasmic Score (ADAMTS13 Enzyme Activity Prediction Tool)
- Thrombocytopenia and Microangiopathic Hemolytic Anemia (MAHA)
- Without obvious alternative diagnosis, manage Thrombocytopenia and MAHA as TTP
- Also seen in Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (see differential diagnosis above)
XII. Management
- Treat as a hematologic emergency
- Early Hematology Consultation
- Admit all patients
- Immediate management
- High dose Corticosteroids (Methylprednisolone)
- Plasmapheresis
- Withdrawal via 17 gauge intravenous catheter
- Return via 18 gauge intravenous catheter
- Plasma exchange with Cryosupernate or FFP
- Cryosupernate (preferred) or Fresh Frozen Plasma replace withdrawn fluid
- Cryosupernate and FFP contain functional ADAMTS13
- Adjunctive measures
- Aspirin or Dipyridamole (consider as Platelet Counts are improving >50k and no signs of bleeding)
- Avoid Platelet Transfusion unless catastrophic bleeding (e.g. Intracranial Hemorrhage)
- Obtain central venous access
- Refractory case management
- Rituximab
- Indicated for frequent relapses or failure to respond to plasma exchange
- Splenectomy
- Gammaglobulin
- Vincristine
- Rituximab
XIII. Prognosis
- Untreated: 80% mortality within 3 months
- Treatment with plasmapheresis: 17% mortality
XIV. References
- Arora and Herbert in Majoewsky (2013) EM:Rap 13(3):1
- Marx (2002) Rosen’s Emergency Med, p. 1693
- Merrill and Gillen (2016) Crit Dec Emerg Med 30(3): 3-8
- Kessler (2012) J Emerg Med 43(3): 538-44 [PubMed]
- Nabhan (2003) Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 17:177-99 [PubMed]