title: von Willebrand factor abnormalities and endothelial cell perturbation in a patient with acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
abstract: The plasma of a 63-year-old patient with an initial acute, fatal episode of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) contained agglutinated platelets and a factor VIII-related von Willebrand factor (vWF) antigen level that was elevated seven-fold above normal. Unusually large vWF multimers derived from endothelial cells were detected in her plasma at the onset of the TTP episode. This is the first patient in whom vWF abnormalities indicative of in vivo endothelial cell damage or perturbation have been found during an acute episode of TTP.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Moake
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Rudy
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Troll
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Colannino
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Koutcher
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Melaragno
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Manner
mesh_terms: D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D004727:Endothelium / Q000276:immunology; D005169:Factor VIII / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D008875:Middle Aged; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D005169:Factor VIII