title: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in a patient with interferon treated hepatitis C successfully treated with rituximab.
abstract: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a life threatening condition associated with formation of platelet thrombi. Deficiency of ADAM TS 13 with presence of inhibitory anti-ADAM TS 13 Immunoglobulin G antibody is seen in patients with acquired TTP. TTP in patients on interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C has rarely been reported. Furthermore, successful treatment of an initial episode of acute refractory acquired TTP, in a patient of chronic hepatitis C during interferon therapy with Rituximab, has not been previously reported. Here we describe a case of acute refractory acquired TTP associated with pegylated interferon therapy for her chronic hepatitis C infection. Initially refractory to plasmapheresis and steroids, she was successfully treated with Rituximab and plasmaphersis without any evidence of reactivation of hepatitis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center , Brooklyn, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Nishant
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Poddar
authors.forename: Jen C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Wang
keywords: Rituximab; hepatitis C; interferon; thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura