Distinct Clinical Syndromes Are Defined by ADAMTS13 Activity in Idiopathic TTP: Results of the SERF-TTP Study.
Authors: Zakarija Anaadriana , Kwaan Hau C. , Banderanko Nicholas , Pandey Dilip K. , Cursio John F. , Weiss Ivy M. , Luu Thanh Ha , Winters Jeffrey L. , Ortel Thomas L. , Raife Thomas J. , Sarode Ravindra , Bennett Charles L. 
Published: October 2019

Background: The Surveillance, Epidemiology & Risk Factors for TTP (SERF-TTP) study is the largest prospective cohort of idiopathic TTP cases to date.

Methods: Patients with first episode of idiopathic TTP were enrolled at 11 sites in the US. Exclusion criteria include solid organ or allogeneic stem cell transplant, anti-neoplastic therapy or malignancy. All patients underwent therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). Remission is defined as platelet count >150,000/mm3. ADAMTS13 activity was measured by fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay (FRETS-vWF73, Peptides Int.). ADAMTS13 inhibitor was assessed by ELISA (Technozym ADAMTS13 INH ELISA, Technoclone) and functional inhibition of normal ADAMTS13 activity (modified FRETS). Differences between the groups was evaluated by Chi-square test, t-test or Fisher’s exact test.

Results: Complete data is available for 57 cases. 84% were female & median age was 42. ADAMTS13 was severely deficient (<10%) in 53%, moderate (10–50%) in 8%, & normal (>50%) in 39%. Adverse events were frequent & most commonly include citrate toxicity and allergic reactions. Long-term followup was available for 56 patients, and overall relapse rate was 25% with median time to relapse of 11 months. The relapse rate was 41% in patients with severe ADAMST13 deficiency & 0% in patients with normal ADAMTS13 activity (p=0.0077).

Conclusions: Severe ADAMTS13 deficiency does not define all cases of idiopathic TTP, yet is associated with a unique syndrome characterized by severe thrombocytopenia, normal renal function, presence of ADAMTS13 neutralizing autoantibodies & high risk of relapse. Non-ADAMTS13 deficient idiopathic TTP has clinical features similar to thrombotic microangiopathies associated with stem cell transplant or drugs such as quinine, yet has a better than expected overall survival after TPE. There is likely an alternate disease mechanism for this cohort, possibly immunologic, which may be responsive to TPE and warrants further study.

ADAMTS13 < 10% n=30 ADAMTS13 > 50% n=22 p-value * t-test, ** Fisher’s Exact Test, # Chi-Square Test Presenting Labs Hemoglobin (mean) 8.5 9.2 0.22* Platelet count (mean x10^9/L) 19 57 <0.0005* Serum creatinine (mean) 1.33 3.9 0.0012* ADAMTS13 antibody (neutralizing & non-neutralizing) % 100 63.6 0.0004** ADAMTS13 neutralizing antibody % 83 35 .0003# Presenting Symptoms Neurologic symptoms present 45 52.4 0.23# Diarrhea 23 30.4 0.79# Infection 40 43.5 0.79# Past Medical History Connective Tissue Disease % 10 8.5 0.28# Family history of TTP % 0 4.6 0.11# Remission Labs Hemoglobin (mean) 12.2 8.5 0.16* Platelet count (mean x10^9/L)) 169 152 0.15* Serum creatinine (mean) 1.02 3.7 0.0009* Outcomes Therapy-related Adverse events % 71 55 0.24# Time (days) to remission (plt > 150,000) 9.7 9.2 0.89* Early remission (< 8 days) % 73 57 0.20# 30 day Exacerbation rate % 35 28 0.63# 30 day Survival % 96.6 90.0 0.56** Long-term Relapse % 41 0 0.0077**