Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Signs and symptoms of TTP that reflect the underlying end-organ damage include thrombocytopenia and hemolytic anemia. The CNS is the most commonly affected end organ, with manifestations that can include a headache, focal neurologic deficits, seizures, confusion, and vertigo. Signs and symptoms associated with volume overload and/or cardiac arrhythmias can occur due to TTP causing acute renal failure. Hemolytic anemia can cause fatigue, dyspnea, and jaundice. The thrombocytopenia can present as mucosal bleeding as well as petechial and/or purpuric skin findings. Many patients present with a fever. 

Frequently, the presentation of TTP is somewhat indolent. Most cases are discovered in the ambulatory setting after a period of days to weeks that the patient feels poorly. 

Although renal failure is part of the classic presentation, in practice, it is rare to have renal dysfunction. Some providers recommend looking for other causes of TMA that can present with renal failure (HUS); that is, the presence of renal failure suggests against TTP. In addition, if the patient presents with a coagulopathy, it is unlikely to be a patient with TTP.

The classic TTP pentad of fever, thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, renal dysfunction, and neurologic dysfunction cannot be relied on for diagnosis because it only occurs in 50% of cases. Laboratory evaluation plays a critically important role in the diagnosis of TTP because signs and symptoms are variable and end-organ damage can be delayed. For diagnosis, the labs must show anemia and thrombocytopenia along with an indication of active hemolysis, such as the presence of schistocytes, increased unconjugated bilirubin, increased reticulocyte count, increased lactate dehydrogenase, and decreased haptoglobin.[9][10][11]

If renal dysfunction is present, labs often show increased serum creatine, proteinuria, and hematuria. PT and PTT will be normal which differentiates TTP from disseminated intravascular coagulation. ADAMTS13 activity assay should be ordered, but results will not be immediately available. The findings of thrombocytopenia, anemia, and schistocytes, in the absence of DIC, is all that is needed for the presumptive diagnosis of TTP. Once TTP is confirmed, serologic testing should be ordered for autoantibodies, viral hepatitis, and HIV. In females able to bear children, a pregnancy test should be obtained. 

The mainstay of treatment in TTP is plasma exchange with high dose steroids (1 mg/kg of prednisone, advised by James George of Oklahoma University). This should be initiated as soon as possible on all patients who have unexplained hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia with a normal PT/INR and PTT. Both the ultra-large VWF multimers and the ADAMTS13 autoantibodies are effectively removed from circulation by plasma exchange therapy. Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) is the blood product of choice for plasma exchange. Other treatments used are corticosteroids, vincristine, and rituximab. [12][13][14]Corticosteroids should be considered as an adjunct to plasma exchange. The chemotherapeutic agent vincristine and the monoclonal antibody rituximab are often reserved for TTP cases refractory to plasma exchange. A packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion can be given if there is a clinical indication. Platelet transfusion is controversial but is considered to be contraindicated unless major bleeding is present. A hematologist should be consulted as soon as the diagnosis is considered.  [15]

Monitoring for response is essential to determine the duration of plasma exchange. Typically, hemolysis markers are checked daily. Plasma exchange usually is stopped once the platelet levels stabilize at above 150 for more than 48 hours.[16]

• Cancer-associated TMA

• Disseminated intravascular coagulation

• Drug-induced TMA

• Haemopoietic  transplant-associated TMA

• Hypertension

• Immune thrombocytopenia

• Malignant hypertension

Remember that all thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs) cause microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) and thrombocytopenia, but not all findings of MAHA with thrombocytopenia are a result of a TMA syndrome. Other causes of MAHA with thrombocytopenia include:

• HELLP syndrome (breakdown of red blood cells, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count occurring in pregnancy) and severe preeclampsia
• Severe hypertension (hypertensive emergency)
• Severe sepsis and disseminated intravascular coagulation (will have abnormal coagulation studies, while TTP will have normal coagulation studies)
• Cancer
• Autoimmune processes (lupus, scleroderma, heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
• Mechanical causes (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt, cardiac valvular pathology)
• Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
• Transplant patients

Other primary TMA syndromes include the following:

• Shiga toxin-mediated hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS, usually with bloody diarrhea and associated with Escherichia coli 0157: H7)
• Complement-mediated HUS (previously referred to as atypical HUS)
• Drug-induced TMA: Chemotherapy (mitomycin and gemcitabine), cyclosporine, tacrolimus, bevacizumab, illegal narcotics.

TTP is a serious life-threatening disorder that is best managed by an interprofessional team that includes a nurse, hematologist, emergency department physician, nephrologist, neurologist and an internist. Besides steroids, many of these patients may benefit from plasmapheresis. Hence, the role of the nurse cannot be understated. Monitoring for response is essential to determine the duration of plasma exchange. Typically, hemolysis markers are checked daily. Plasma exchange usually is stopped once the platelet levels stabilize at above 150 for more than 48 hours. The outcomes of patients with TTP depend on age, presence of neurological deficits, renal dysfunction, response to treatment and other co-morbidity. Most patients require a prolonged stay in hospital as recovery is gradual.[17][18] (Level V)