Spero R. Cataland, MD, Oncologist and Hematology Specialist at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and the James Cancer Hospital, describes what physicians ought to know about thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP).
TTP is a rare hematologic condition due to reduced activity of ADAMTS13 enzyme. The reduced activity is either due to a person developing antibodies to ADAMTS13 (acquired TTP) or a genetic mutation that reduces the production of the enzyme (inherited TTP).
As Dr. Cataland explains, many physicians think of TTP as an acute attack where one round of treatment – for example, plasma exchange and corticosteroids – is sufficient. In reality, about half of patients will have chronic sequelae after an attack. These can include neurocognitive deficits, short term memory problems, headaches, and mood disorders. There are also more subtle cognitive changes, such as word hesitation and becoming more forgetful, which are easy to overlook if a physician does not know the patient well. Dr. Cataland urges physicians to begin thinking of TTP as a chronic condition which can cause negative effects even after treatment rather than as a condition that causes acute attacks.
To learn more about TTP and other hematologic conditions, click here.