title: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid antibodies: effective treatment with plasma exchange and immunosuppression.
abstract: We describe 2 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with neurological complications and thrombocytopenia, who, upon further investigation, were found to have thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. While neither patient responded to treatment with corticosteroids, both responded to plasma exchange and intravenous cyclophosphamide. This highlights the need to carefully consider this diagnosis in patients with SLE presenting with neurological complications and thrombocytopenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, VA Medical Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30910.
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sethi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Awad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000150:complications; D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / Q000032:analysis*; D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D017152:Antibodies, Antiphospholipid; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide