Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura Health Article

Definition

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a blood disorder that causes blood clots to form in small blood vessels around the body, and leads to a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia).

See also: Hemolytic-uremic syndrome

Alternative Names

TTP

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

This disease may be caused by the lack of an enzyme (a type of protein) that is involved in blood clotting. Not having enough of this enzyme causes clotting to occur. As the platelets clump together in these clots, fewer platelets are available in the blood in other parts of the body to help with clotting. This can lead to bleeding under the skin and purple-colored spots called purpura.

In many cases, the disorder is passed down through families (inherited). The condition also may be related to:

• Bone marrow transplantation
• Cancer
• Chemotherapy
• HIV infection
• Hormone replacement therapy and estrogens
• Many commonly used medications (including ticlopidine, clopidogrel, and cyclosporine A)

Symptoms

• Bleeding into the skin or mucus membranes
• Changes in consciousness
• Confusion
• Easy fatigue
• Fever
• Headache
• Heart rate over 100 beats per minute
• Pallor
• Purplish spots in the skin produced by small bleeding vessels near the surface of the skin (purpura)
• Shortness of breath on exertion
• Speech changes
• Weakness
• Yellowish color to the skin (jaundice)

Signs and tests

• Bilirubin
• Blood smear
• CBC
• Creatinine level
• Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level
• Mucus membrane biopsy
• Platelet count
• Urinalysis