title: Rapid death from thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura following caesarean section.
abstract: We report a case of rapid death from thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura (TTP) in a young pregnant lady who developed full blown symptoms soon after caesarean section. Extensive intramyocardial confluent haemorrhages and widespread microthrombi in heart, brain, adrenals and kidney were found at autopsy. Thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura is an uncommon condition, which carries a high fatality rate if untreated. Awareness of this syndrome together with its high risk of sudden death underlines the importance of rapid diagnosis and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital.
authors.forename: U S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Khoo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dickens
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Cheung
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D002585:Cesarean Section; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000473:pathology*; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*