• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

TTP

Treatment:

Plasma exchange (plasmapheresis) is used to remove unwanted substances from the blood and to replace the missing enzyme that normally breaks down proteins (protease).

First, you will have your blood drawn as if you were donating blood.The plasma portion of the blood will be passed through a cell separator. The remaining portion of the blood will be saved, plasma will be added to it, and the blood will be returned to you via a transfusion.

In people who have thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, this treatment is repeated daily until blood tests show improvement. People who do not respond to this treatment, or who have frequent recurrences, may need to have surgery to remove the spleen. Or, they may need to get drugs that suppress the immune system (such as corticosteroids).

Expectations (prognosis):

Plasmapheresis has improved the outcome of this disease so that most patients now recover completely. However, some people can die from this disease. In people who don't recover, this condition can become long-term ( chronic ).

Complications:

• Kidney failure
• Severe bleeding (hemorrhage)
• Stroke

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you have any unexplained bleeding.

• Review Date: 4/27/2007
• Reviewed By: Rita Nanda, M.D., Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.