Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

ABSTRACT: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a clearly defined entity of the thrombotic microangiopathies (TMA), a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by microangiopathic hemolytic anemia with red cell fragmentation, thrombocytopenia and organ dysfunction due to disturbed microcirculation. TTP is characterized by a severe deficiency of ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13), an enzyme responsible for physiological cleavage of von Willebrand factor (VWF). Organ dysfunction can be severe and life-threatening, and immediate start of appropriate therapy is necessary to avoid permanent damage or death. Until recently, therapeutic options were limited to symptomatic measures, which were not standardized or based on high scientific

SUBMITTER: Knobl P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6132833 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature