Patients often suffer from paleness or jaundice accompanied by fatigue and fever. They often have a quickened heart rate and shortness of breath. Symptoms often include a headache, speech changes, confusion, coma, stroke, or seizure. There is sometimes found to be a protein or blood in the urine (What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura, 2009).
Although most people will only have one episode of TTP in their lifetime, a small percentage of people have repeated episodes. Some research has shown that during a 10-year period from the initial onset of the disease about a third of patients will have at least one relapse. A relapse can occur up to eight years after the initial episode. Currently there is no way to identify those who might relapse. Doctors often recommend long-term preventative measures that include low dose aspirin. In one study a splenectomy was shown to reduce the risk of relapse. Since it is possible for TTP to recur it is important that all patients remain under the care of a hematologist. Medical attention should be obtained immediately if symptoms or signs of TTP recur since fast treatment is thought to shorten the duration of a relapse (Allford, 2009).
Treatment of TTP often includes a procedure known as plasma exchange. Plasma exchange involves the removal of a patient's plasma and replacement with donor plasma. The procedure usually needs to be performed on a daily basis for at least five...
Sometimes many more procedures are necessary. Plasma exchange is not a surgical process. It is done by placing two intravenous lines into two separate veins. Blood is taken out and placed into a cell separator machine. This machine separates the patient's blood cells from the plasma. The patient's blood cells are then mixed with donor plasma and returned to the patient via the second intravenous line. Even though the process of plasma exchange is not painful it is uncomfortable and can take up to three hours to complete (Allford, 2009).
References
Allford, Sarah. (2009). Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Retrieved December 7,
2009, from Net Doctor Web site: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/ttp.htm
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. (2006). Retrieved December 7, 2009, from University
of Missouri-Columbia Web site: http://www.vhct.org/case2300/etiology.htm
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura? (2009). Retrieved
December 7, 2009, from National Heart Lung Blood Institute Web site:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/ttp/TTP_SignsAndSymptoms.html
What Is Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura? (2009). Retrieved December 7, 2009, from National Heart Lung Blood Institute Web site:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/ttp/TTP_WhatIs.html
