title: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in pregnancy: successful treatment with plasma exchange. Case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare syndrome which presents typically with thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, central nervous system symptoms, fever, and renal abnormalities. The diagnosis of TTP in pregnancy previously carried a poor prognosis and a high fetal mortality when presenting early in gestation. This case report describes the earliest presentation of TTP in pregnancy (6 weeks of gestation) we could identify in the literature treated successfully with a prolonged course of plasma exchange. The differential diagnosis and the pathogenesis of TTP in pregnancy are reviewed. Therapeutic options and data regarding the removal of pregnancy-related hormones by plasma exchange are presented.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, USA.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Mokrzycki
authors.forename: F R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Rickles
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: O F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Kohn
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*