Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)
Would you like to know what lab results mean? DDxHub - Differential Diagnosis Hub helps to understand and explains your blood test.
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) |
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Would you like to know what lab results mean? DDxHub - Differential Diagnosis Hub helps to understand and explains your blood test. |
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You have symptoms and blood work results. How do they correlate? What is the health condition? Some disorders have similar signs and laboratory values. DDxHub helps to define a right diagnosis. Run DDxHub now and enter symptoms and test results. |
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All information on this page is intended for your general knowledge only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See Additional Information |
In 1924, Eli Moschowitz, MD, described a girl who presented with an abrupt onset of petechiae and pallor followed rapidly by paralysis, coma, and death. Upon pathologic examination, the small arterioles and capillaries of the patient were found to have thrombi consisting mostly of platelets. Dr. Moschowitz hypothesized a "powerful poison which had both agglutinative and hemolytic properties" as the cause of the disease. The syndrome described by Moschowitz is now known as thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). In its full-blown form, the disease consists of the pentad of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenic purpura, neurologic abnormalities, fever, and renal disease. A closely related disorder, hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), shares many clinical characteristics of TTP but is more common in children. Renal abnormalities tend to be more severe in HUS. TTP is a potential diagnosis in any patient with anemia and thrombocytopenia: 95% of cases are fatal if left untreated. Symptoms are usually nonspecific, although half of patients have neurologic abnormalities. Examination of the peripheral smear is critical and shows evidence of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia with fragmented RBCs (schistocytes) and thrombocytopenia. An urgent hematology consultation is recommended for suspected cases. Plasma-exchange therapy is the mainstay of treatment. Renal and neurologic dysfunctions are the main complications.
