BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Antiplatelet agents are often included in plasma exchange-based regimens for @entity2106 ( @entity2106 ) @entity1 ; however, the opportuneness of their use in @entity2106 is still controversial. The italian Cooperative Group for @entity2106 carried out a randomized trial to investigate their actual effectiveness, both in acute @entity2106 and as maintenance treatment. METHODS: Seventy-two @entity2106 @entity1 were randomized to receive plasma exchange and @entity230 with (group B) or without (group A) aspirin and @entity4341 . Treatment efficacy was evaluated after 15 days and salvage treatments were also considered for non-responders. Upon disease remission, the @entity1 already treated with antiplatelet agents received @entity1396 for one year. RESULTS: Regarding the treatment of acute phase @entity2106 , similar overall response rates were observed in the two groups (91.4% in group B vs. 75.6% in group A), but lower mortality rates were observed at 15 days in the @entity1 treated with antiplatelet agents; as a matter of fact, 5 @entity1 from arm A died in the first 15 days (13.5%) versus only one in arm B (2.8%). These figures, while not statistically significant, seem to suggest that antiplatelet agents might be useful in preventing @entity204 in acute @entity2106 ; moreover, bleeding did not worsen in antiplatelet agent-treated @entity1 . As for the role of maintenance treatment, our results support the efficacy and safety of one-year @entity1396 therapy since the current relapse rate is significantly higher in non-treated @entity1 ; as a matter of fact, 6 @entity1 (21.4%) in the non- @entity1396 group and only 2 (6.25%) in the @entity1396 group relapsed (P = .0182 in favor of maintenance treatment). INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest the usefulness of antiplatelet agents in the treatment of acute phase @entity2106 @entity1 . Moreover, one-year @entity1396 maintenance therapy appears to be beneficial in preventing @entity2106 relapses; however, only the completion of an adequate follow-up for all @entity1 will definitively confirm this observation.

Antiplatelet agents in @entity2106 ( XXXX ). Results of a randomized multicenter trial by the Italian Cooperative Group for @entity2106 .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity1396 :: ('MESH:D013988', 'Chemical') :: ['ticlopidine'] @entity4341 :: ('MESH:D004176', 'Chemical') :: ['dipyridamole'] @entity230 :: ('MESH:D013256', 'Chemical') :: ['steroids'] @entity204 :: ('MESH:D003643', 'Disease') :: ['deaths'] @entity2106 :: ('MESH:D011697', 'Disease') :: ['thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura', 'TTP']
@entity2106 :: (MESH:D011697,Disease) :: ['TTP']
