People may be very ill with this disorder, and kidney abnormalities may develop. The cause of the disease is unknown, but it is thought to be caused by the development of antibodies . Risk factors are being between 20 and 50 years old, recent estrogen use or pregnancy , and HIV infection. The incidence is 4 out of 100,000 people. This disease may also alter the results of platelet associated antibodies test.
Blood is withdrawn from the patient as for a blood donation.
Then the plasma portion of the blood is passed through a cell separator. The remaining portion of the blood is saved, reconstituted with a plasma substitute, and returned to the patient as a blood transfusion. In thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, this treatment is repeated daily until blood tests show improvement. People who do not respond to this treatment, or have frequent recurrences, may require the removal of the spleen. With relapses, the remaining cases become chronic .