Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a rare syndrome affecting multiple organs. There is no sufficient evidence regarding the clinical cardiac manifestations of TTP. Nonetheless, pathologic cardiac involvement is quite frequent in acute TTP, which is predominantly manifested as myocardial necrosis due to coronary arteriolar microthrombosis. The present case report describes a 43-year-ol...

Chronic autoimmune thrombocytopenic purpura (AITP) is an immune-mediated, bleeding disorder in which platelets are opsonized by autoantibodies and prematurely destroyed by phagocytic cells in the reticuloendothelial system. It is classed as an organ-specific autoimmune disease primarily mediated by immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies and its etiology appears to be similar to that observed for...

Although autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is frequently complicated with chronic thyroiditis or other autoimmune disorders, reports on its association with immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) are scarce. We herein describe a case of AIH associated with ITP. A 75-year-old Japanese woman was admitted to our hospital due to increased aminotransferase levels and severe thrombocytopenia. Elevated serum ...

A case of Hodgkin's disease presenting as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura in a 23-year-old male is reported. This is a rare presentation of Hodgkin's disease having been previously described in only two cases.

We report two patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who subsequently developed thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. In each case the coexistence of these two conditions was confirmed by pathological findings. Both patients responded to treatment, but one eventually died. A review of the literature suggests a possible relationship between the two disorders.

Idiopathic thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a life-threatening disease mediated by autoantibodies directed against ADAMTS-13. A number of small series and case reports have shown promising results with rituximab in refractory or relapsed TTP. In this report, we present 13 patients with TTP treated with rituximab. Twelve of the 13 patients (92%) achieved complete response; no subsequ...

First generation thrombopoietic growth factors (rhTPO and PEG-rHuMGDF), investigated in the early 2000s, proved effective in increasing platelet count in normal volunteers, in thrombocytopenia due to chemotherapy and also in a few cases of immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). These agents did not complete their clinical development since one of them induced antibodies in the recipients that c...

Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in children is usually a benign and self-limiting disorder. It may follow a viral infection or immunization and is caused by an inappropriate response of the immune system. The diagnosis relies on the exclusion of other causes of thrombocytopenia. This paper discusses the differential diagnoses and investigations, especially the importance of bone marrow as...

Figure 1. Asprirate of the bone marrow shows a normal-looking megakarocyte and a clump of neoplastic cells (May-Giemsa Grünwald stain; original magnification 40). Thrombocytopenia is a frequent complication of cancer and is a contraindication for aggressive antineoplastic therapy until the etiology of the low platelet count is determined and the clinical situation is successfully addressed. The...