title: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: a multimodality model of treatment including plasma exchange, i.v. immunoglobulin, prednisone, antiplatelet agents, vincristine and splenectomy.
abstract: Thirteen patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura were treated at our facility between 1985 and 1991. All patients were treated with plasma therapy (both plasma exchange and plasma infusions), prednisone, intravenous immunoglobulin, and antiplatelet agents. Twelve patients achieved remission (92.3%). One patient died from cerebral hemorrhage. Vincristine was administered to 5 patients who did not respond after the first two plasmaphereses. Splenectomy was performed in a patient who relapsed four times within a 2-year period. From the 12 patients achieving remission, 11 have been still in remission for a period of 3 to 69 months.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine-Propaedeutic, Athens University, Evangelismos General Hospital, Greece.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dervenoulas
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Karakassis
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belia
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pappa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Economopoulos
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Papageorgiou
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stavrou
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bouronikou
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stylogiannis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raptis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004176:Dipyridamole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010949:Plasma; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000187:drug effects; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000201:enzymology / Q000628:therapy*; D013156:Splenectomy; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014750:Vincristine; D004176:Dipyridamole; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D001241:Aspirin; D011241:Prednisone