Treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Fontana, S; Kremer Hovinga, J A; Lämmle, B; Mansouri Taleghani, B (2006). Treatment of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Vox sanguinis, 90(4), pp. 245-54. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell 10.1111/j.1423-0410.2006.00747.x

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Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), characterized by thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia, was almost universally fatal until the introduction of plasma exchange (PE) therapy in the 1970s. Based on clinical studies, daily PE has become the first-choice therapy since 1991. Recent findings may explain its effectiveness, which may include, in particular, the removal of anti-ADAMTS13 autoantibodies and unusually large von Willebrand factor multimers and/or supply of ADAMTS13 in acquired idiopathic or congenital TTP. Based on currently available data, the favoured PE regimen is daily PE [involving replacement of 1-1.5 times the patient's plasma volume with fresh-frozen plasma (FFP)] until remission. Adverse events of treatment are mainly related to central venous catheters. The potential reduction of plasma related side-effects, such as transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) or febrile transfusion reactions by use of solvent-detergent treated (S/D) plasma instead of FFP is not established by controlled clinical studies. Uncontrolled clinical observations and the hypothesis of an autoimmune process in a significant part of the patients with acquired idiopathic TTP suggest a beneficial effect of adjunctive therapy with corticosteroids. Other immunosuppressive treatments are not tested in controlled trials and should be reserved for refractory or relapsing disease. There is no convincing evidence for the use of antiplatelet agents. Supportive treatment with transfusion of red blood cells or platelets has to be evaluated on a clinical basis, but the transfusion trigger for platelets should be very restrictive. Further controlled, prospective studies should consider the different pathophysiological features of thrombotic microangiopathies, address the prognostic significance of ADAMTS13 and explore alternative exchange fluids to FFP, the role of immunosuppressive therapies and of new plasma saving approaches as recombinant ADAMTS13 and protein A immunoadsorption.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Further Contribution)
Division/Institute:	04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Haematology, Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Laboratory Medicine and Hospital Pharmacy (DOLS) > Clinic of Haematology and Central Haematological Laboratory
UniBE Contributor:	Fontana, Stefano, Kremer Hovinga Strebel, Johanna Anna, Lämmle, Bernhard, Mansouri Taleghani, Behrouz
ISSN:	0042-9007
ISBN:	16635066
Publisher:	Wiley-Blackwell
Language:	English
Submitter:	Factscience Import
Date Deposited:	04 Oct 2013 14:47
Last Modified:	02 Mar 2023 23:22
Publisher DOI:	10.1111/j.1423-0410.2006.00747.x
PubMed ID:	16635066
Web of Science ID:	000237065400001
URI:	https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/19341 (FactScience: 1879)