Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Authors: ANTHONY V. PISCIOTTA
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1980)

Editorials1 February 1980Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic PurpuraANTHONY V. PISCIOTTA, M.D.ANTHONY V. PISCIOTTA, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-92-2-249 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptOriginally described in 1925 (1), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura remained until recently a fulminating and rapidly fatal disorder. Fortunately, it has been rare. For this reason, the early literature on the disorder has consisted of accounts of one or a few cases, largely descriptive and all attesting to the very high mortality rate; in accounts of some 23 cases, only three patients recovered. Very likely the mortality rate was even higher, because most authors prefer to report successes rather than failures. In these studies, patients failed to respond to low-dose corticosteroids, splenectomy, heparin, dextran, dipyridamole, and aspirin, given alone or in...References1. MOSCHCOWITZ E. An acute febrile pleiochrome anemia with hyaline thrombosis of the terminal arteriole and capillaries: an undescribed disease. Arch Intern Med. 1925;36:89-93. CrossrefGoogle Scholar2. RUBINSTEINKAGANMACGILLVIRAYMERLISSSACKS MBMRH. Unusual remission in a case of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura syndrome following fresh blood exchange transfusions. Ann Intern Med. 1959;51:1409-19. LinkGoogle Scholar3. CUTTNER J. Splenectomy, steroids, and dextran 70 in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. JAMA. 1974;227:397-402. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. BUKOWSKIHEWLETTHARRIS RJJ. Exchange transfusion in the treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Semin Hematol. 1976;13:219-32. MedlineGoogle Scholar5. PISCIOTTAGARTHWAITEDARINASTER ATJR. Treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura by exchange transfusion. Am J Hematol. 1977;3:73-82. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. BYRNESKHURANA JM. Treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura with plasma. N Engl J Med. 1977;297:1386-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. UPSHAW J. Congenital deficiency of a factor in plasma that reverses microangiopathic hemolysis and thrombocytopenia. N Engl J Med. 1978;298:1350-2. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. BUKOWSKIKINGHEWLETT RJJ. Plasmapheresis in the treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Blood. 1977;50:413-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. RYANCOOPERFIRKIN PIB. Plasmapheresis in the treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: a report of five cases. Med J Austral. 1979;1:69-72. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. MYERSWAKEMBALLTREMONT TCES. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: combined treatment with plasmapheresis and antiplatelet agents. Ann Intern Med. 1980;92:149-55. LinkGoogle Scholar11. TAFT E. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and dose of plasma exchange. Blood. 1979;54:842-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. BRITTINGHAMCHAPLIN TH. Attempted passive transfer of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Blood. 1957;12:480-2. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar13. METTLER N. Isolation of a microtatobiote from patients with hemolytic-uremic syndrome and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and from mites in the United States. N Engl J Med. 1969;281:1023-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar14. LIANHARKNESSBYRNEWALLACHNUNEZ EDJHR. Presence of a platelet aggregating factor in the plasma of patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and its inhibition by normal plasma. Blood. 1979;53:333-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar15. REMUZZIMISIANIMARCHESI GRD. Hemolyticuraemic syndrome: deficiency of plasma factor(s) regulating prostacyclin activity? Lancet. 1978;2:871-2. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: ANTHONY V. PISCIOTTA, M.D.Affiliations: Medical College of Wisconsin Milwaukee County Medical Complex 8700 West Wisconsin Avenue; Milwaukee, Wisconsin PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byHemolytic anemias: Diagnosis and ManagementImitators of Preeclampsia and HELLP SyndromeThe gingival biopsy in the diagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpuraThrombotic Thrombocytopenic PurpuraThrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: Report of caseThrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: Recovery after splenectomy associated with persistence of abnormally large von willebrand factor multimersThrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: Recovery after plasmapheresis, corticosteroids, splenectomy, and antiplatelet agentsThrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in pregnancy: A reappraisalTopics in Therapeutic Plasma Exchange: Classification of Published Work 1 February 1980Volume 92, Issue 2_Part_1Page: 249-250KeywordsAspirinDeath ratesDextranHeparinSplenectomyThrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 February 1980 PDF downloadLoading ...