title: Prompt plasma-exchange treatment and coma reversibility in two patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
abstract: We report on the cases of two women with acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) whose clinical courses were characterized by the onset of a coma state. Prompt commencement of plasma-exchange (PE) treatment led to complete hematological and neurological remission, which can still be observed without any maintenance therapy. No CNS abnormalities were observed in either patient using brain CT and NMR scans.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ematologia L. e A. Seràgnoli, Università, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vianelli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sermasi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Alessandro
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zucchelli
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Belardinelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Catani
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Belmonte
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cascione
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gugliotta
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000150:complications; D003128:Coma / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous
chemical_list: D003907:Dexamethasone