Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in early pregnancy. Remission after plasma exchange.
A 24-year-old Chinese female developed fever, fluctuating neurological and renal manifestations, microangopathic hemolytic anemia, and thrombocytopenia during the 11th week of her first pregnancy. Therapy for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), initiated during the 15th week of her pregnancy, including corticosteroids, platelet aggregation inhibitors, hysterotomy, and splenectomy was ineffective. However, dramatic improvement and remission occurred after plasma exchange of 3,560 ml was performed with the Haemonetics Model 30 Blood Cell Separator.
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005078:Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000628:therapy*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000628:therapy*
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones