Condition Lookup
Category:
Thrombotic Microangiopathies
Number of Conditions: 1
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)
Specialty: Hematology
Category: Thrombotic Microangiopathies
Symptoms:
fever; confusion or neurological symptoms; microangiopathic hemolytic anemia; thrombocytopenia; renal impairment; purpura or bruising
Root Cause:
Deficiency or inhibition of ADAMTS13 enzyme leading to abnormal clotting and red blood cell destruction in small blood vessels.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests (CBC, peripheral smear showing schistocytes, LDH, haptoglobin), ADAMTS13 activity assay, and ruling out other causes.
Treatment:
Plasma exchange (plasmapheresis), corticosteroids, rituximab (for refractory cases).
Medications:
Corticosteroids (immunosuppressive), rituximab (monoclonal antibody), caplacizumab (anti-vWF monoclonal antibody).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, approximately 2-6 cases per million annually.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Autoimmune disorders, HIV, certain medications, pregnancy.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Potentially life-threatening without treatment; survival improves significantly with plasma exchange.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Stroke, organ damage, recurrence.