title: Role of methylene blue-treated or fresh-frozen plasma in the response to plasma exchange in patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.
abstract: Twenty patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) underwent plasma exchange using either standard fresh-frozen plasma (Group A, n = 13) or methylene blue-treated plasma (Group B, n = 7). Both groups presented similar characteristics except that bilirubin values were higher in Group A (P < 0.05). The complete remission rate was higher in Group A than B (69% versus 57%). The mean number of procedures was higher in Group B (21 +/- 7 versus 11 +/- 3, P < 0.01) and the mean duration of hospitalization was also longer (37 +/- 12 d versus 22 +/- 11 d; P < 0.01). Our study shows that the use of methylene blue-treated fresh-frozen plasma to treat TTP is associated with a higher number of plasma exchanges and greater transfusion requirements without improving clinical results.
authors.affiliation: Haematology Service, University Hospital La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de la Rubia
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arriaga
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Linares
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Larrea
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carpio
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Marty
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sanz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008751:Methylene Blue; D010949:Plasma; D010951:Plasma Exchange; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011697:Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / Q000628:therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D008751:Methylene Blue