title: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: treatment with plasmapheresis.
abstract: Twenty-one episodes of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) were treated with plasmapheresis. Adjunctive agents included corticosteroids, aspirin, dipyridamole, and vincristine. There were 17 patients; 12 were female. The median age was 41 years. Most patients presented with neurologic symptoms. Thrombocytopenia was profound with a mean initial platelet count of 14,900/mm3. The mean hematocrit on presentation was 26.7% and the mean LDH 1300 IU/L. Eighteen episodes responded completely following plasmapheresis/plasma exchange (86%). Response was prompt, the initial rise in platelet count occurred after a mean of four exchanges, and complete response (a platelet count over 150,000/mm3) was obtained after a mean of nine exchanges. Four of the episodes treated were relapses that occurred in three patients. All responders are alive with a median duration of follow-up of 20 months. The three patients who failed to respond have died. This report extends recent observations that the addition of plasmapheresis/plasma exchange to the therapy of TTP has significantly improved the outlook for patients with this disorder.
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004176:Dipyridamole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D010976:Platelet Count; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D014750:Vincristine; D004176:Dipyridamole; D001241:Aspirin