title: Plasma exchange as successful treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura post autologous bone marrow transplant in a child.
abstract: We describe the case of a small child with stage IV neuroblastoma who developed thrombotic thromobocytopenic purpura (TTP) post autologous bone marrow transplant. Pneumococcal sepsis may have been the cause, a previously unreported association in transplant-associated TTP. Despite the child's size (10 kg) and the severity of the disease early intensive treatment with whole blood exchange and subsequently plasma exchange with cryosupernatant proved to be rapidly effective, in contrast to previous reports on its ineffectiveness in this setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Transfusion Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Plews
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Wallace
mesh_terms: D001835:Body Weight; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000150:complications; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012008:Recurrence; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous / Q000009:adverse effects