A coagulation disorder characterized by extensive formation of thrombi in small blood vessels throughout the body due to low levels of ADAMTS13 protein, and resulting in consumption of circulating platelets, which is characterized by thrombocytopenia, anemia, neurologic changes, and sometimes fever and renal dysfunction.
Symptoms of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
The following features are indicative of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura:
bleeding into the skin
bleeding in mucous membranes
fever
headache
shortness of breath
confusion
pale skin
fast heart rate
fatigue
weakness
It is possible that Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.
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Common Causes of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
The following are the most common causes of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura:
cancer
chemotherapy
hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
hormone replacement therapy
certain medicines like ticlopidine, clopidogrel, guinine, and cyclosporine A
lack of activity in the ADAMTS13 enzyme
Other Causes of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
The following are the less common causes of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura:
HIV infection
Risk Factors for Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura:
pregnant women
patients affected with cancer
patients affected with HIV
patients affected with lupus
surgery including blood and marrow stem cell transplant
chemotherapy
quinine intake
mostly occurs in adults
mostly occurs in women than men
affects black people more than white people
Prevention of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
genetic counselling
Occurrence of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura cases seen each year worldwide:
Rare between 10K - 50K cases
Common Age Group
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura most commonly occurs in the following age group:
Aged between 20-50 years
Common Gender
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura:
Blood test: To determine the number of blood cells
Physical examination: To view the signs of bleeding and detect the Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Platelet count: This test counts the number of platelets
Bilirubin test: Level of bilirubin is checked
Urine test: To check protein or blood cells in urine
Coombs test: To detect the cause of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
Lactate dehydrogenase test: To measures the protein called Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)
ADAMTS13 assay: To check the ADAMTS13 enzyme activity
Doctor for Diagnosis of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura:
Hematologist
Complications of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura if untreated
Yes, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura is left untreated:
kidney failure
thrombocytopenia
stroke
nervous system problems
hemorrhage
can be fatal
Procedures for Treatment of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
The following procedures are used to treat Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura:
Surgery: Removal of spleen causes inhibition of the production of antibodies that block the ADAMTS13 enzyme
Patient Support for Treatment of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
The following actions may help Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura patients:
Join online support groups: Provides better research for prevention of symptoms of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Time for Treatment of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
