Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in early pregnancy with maternal and fetal survival

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in the first trimester of pregnancy

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) occurs more commonly in women and so can be associated with pregnancy. The time during pregnancy with greatest risk for development of TTP is near term and during the post partum period. TTP occurring in early trimester is uncommon and is also associated with great maternal and fetal mortality. We report a successful outcome of pregnancy in a woman with TTP in early first trimester who was treated with therapeutic plasma exchange.

Thrombotic microangiopathies

Thrombotic microangiopathy results from thrombotic occlusion of the microvasculature leading to fragmentation of red blood cells, profound thrombocytopenia, and a microangiopathic hemolytic anemia with elevation of lactate dehydrogenase and negative direct Coomb's test. This constellation of clinical and laboratory findings is not due to one disease entity; rather, it represents a variety of underlying diagnoses. Among the major disease entities are TTP/HUS, which can be congenital or acquired, bacterial infections, medications, vascular or endothelial pathology like Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon, and stem cell transplantation. In this paper, we offer a review of some of the major causes of thrombotic microangiopathy.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in 166 pregnancies: 1955-2006

A review of pregnancy-associated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) in 166 pregnancies was undertaken using 92 English-language publications from 1955 to 2006. Initial and recurrent TTP presents most often in the second trimester (55.5%) after 1-2 days of signs/symptoms; postpartum TTP usually occurs following term delivery. TTP with preeclampsia (n = 28) exhibits 2-4 times higher aspartate aminotransferase (AST) values and lower total lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) to AST ratios (LDH to AST ratio = 13:1), compared with TTP without preeclampsia (LDH to AST ratio = 29:1). Maternal mortality is higher with initial TTP (26% vs 10.7%), especially with concurrent preeclampsia (44.4% vs 21.8%, P < .02). Although maternal mortality with TTP has substantially declined when plasma therapy is utilized, delay of diagnosis and therapy for initial TTP confounded by preeclampsia/hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome remains a significant maternal-perinatal threat. Rapid and readily available laboratory testing to quickly diagnose TTP and HELLP syndrome/preeclampsia is desperately needed to improve care.

Pathology of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in the placenta, with emphasis on the snowman sign

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) commonly affects women of childbearing age. Although cases of TTP in pregnancy have been reported, the pathology of TTP in the placenta has not been described. In other organs, TTP has a distinctive pathology of arteriolar aneurysms with segmental intramural hyaline deposits. Published many decades ago, these classic papers antedate modern computerized literature searches, so this information has not been included in many modern reviews on TTP. We report 2 cases of TTP in pregnancy, both leading to fetal loss in the 2nd trimester. We noticed a distinctive pathology of TTP in the spiral arteries on the maternal surface of the placenta, particularly the "snowman sign," which differs somewhat from TTP in other organs due to the fact that TTP is superimposed on trophoblast-induced changes in these spiral arteries. In one of our cases, where the clinical diagnosis of TTP was difficult, the distinctive placental findings helped reinforce the clinical decision to perform potentially life-saving plasmapheresis.

Imitators of Severe Preeclampsia

There are several obstetric, medical, and surgical disorders that share many of the clinical and laboratory findings of patients with severe preeclampsia-hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets syndrome. Imitators of severe preeclampsia-hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets syndrome are life-threatening emergencies that can develop during pregnancy or in the postpartum period. These conditions are associated with high maternal mortality, and survivors may face long-term sequelae. Perinatal mortality and morbidity also remain high in many of these conditions. The pathophysiologic abnormalities in many of these disorders include thrombotic microangiopathy, thrombocytopenia, and hemolytic anemia. Some of these disorders include acute fatty liver of pregnancy, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, hemolytic uremic syndrome, and acute exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus. Because of the rarity of these conditions during pregnancy and postpartum, the available literature includes only case reports and case series describing these syndromes. Consequently, there are no systematic reviews or randomized trials on these subjects. Differential diagnosis may be difficult due to the overlap of several clinical and laboratory findings of these syndromes. It is important that the clinician make the accurate diagnosis when possible because the management and complications from these syndromes may be different. For example, severe preeclampsia and acute fatty liver of pregnancy are treated by delivery, whereas it is possible to continue pregnancy in those with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura-hemolytic uremic syndrome and exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus. This review focuses on diagnosis, management, and counseling of women who develop these syndromes based on results of recent studies.

Evaluation of women with clinically suspected thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura-hemolytic uremic syndrome during pregnancy

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura-hemolytic uremic syndrome (TTP-HUS) is more common in women, and commonly occurs during pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period. An important clinical issue is the distinction of TTP-HUS from the more common obstetric complications, preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver function tests, low platelets). Clinical suspicion of TTP-HUS requires urgent intervention with plasma exchange treatment, a procedure with substantial risk, while preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome typically resolve spontaneously following delivery. Since clinical features of these syndromes can be similar, especially if preeclampsia becomes severe or if seizures (defining eclampsia) occur, the differential diagnosis may be arbitrary. This review addresses the evaluation and management of these syndromes and describes a clinical approach for determining when plasma exchange is appropriate.