title: Chronic relapsing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: role of therapy with cyclosporine.
abstract: Relapsing thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare disorder with most individuals experiencing 1 to 5 relapses. We report a patient with 18 episodes of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), the highest number of relapses thus far described. The last 11 episodes were treated with regimens containing cyclosporine. The patient's medical record was reviewed for pertinent clinical, laboratory, and treatment data. We summarized various parameters for each episode and compared characteristics of relapses treated with vs. without cyclosporine. The initial episode of TTP was unusual in that it failed to respond to plasmapheresis, glucocorticoids, and fresh frozen plasma (FFP). It remitted only following splenectomy. Episodes 2-7 responded to FFP plus prednisone. Episode 8 failed to respond to prednisone plus FFP but remitted promptly with cyclosporine plus prednisone. Subsequently, 2 relapses responded to cyclosporine alone, 2 to cyclosporine plus FFP, 4 to cyclosporine plus prednisone +/- FFP, and 2 to cyclosporine, FFP, prednisone, and plasma exchange. There was no difference in remission duration, or in severity or duration of relapses treated with vs. without cyclosporine. Use of cyclosporine, however, significantly decreased the requirement for prednisone and the length of maintenance therapy; thus it is effective mainly as an adjunctive therapy for TTP.
authors.affiliation: Medical Service, Stratton VA Medical Center, Albany, New York 12208, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pasquale
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vidhya
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: DaSilva
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Tsan
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lansing
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chikkappa
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D016553:Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D013156:Splenectomy
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine