A novel Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein mutation in an infant with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in a 5-Year-old Child With Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome

Thrombocytopenia is often seen as a laboratory finding during childhood. A supposed idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura patient who was later diagnosed as Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) and developed acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (aTTP). Although autoimmune manifestations in WAS described, aTTP was reported just once. Five-year-old-boy was initially brought with cough, bloody stool (diarrhea), oral mucosal bleeding at 12th months of age. Following diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and receiving intravenous immunoglobulin, platelet count raised from 20,000 to 50,000/µL. One year after WAS diagnosis by mutation analysis, he presented with complaints of resistant fever, epistaxis, and melena. Hemoglobin decreased from 10 to 5.9 g/dL. Schistocytes in peripheral blood smear and high anti-ADAMTS-13 antibody level indicated development of aTTP.

Emerging Concepts in Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Immune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) is an autoimmune disorder of which the etiology is not fully understood. Autoantibodies targeting ADAMTS13 in iTTP patients have extensively been studied, the immunological mechanisms leading to the breach of tolerance remain to be uncovered. This review addresses the current knowledge on genetic factors associated with the development of iTTP and the interplay between the patient’s immune system and environmental factors in the induction of autoimmunity against ADAMTS13. HLA-DRB1*11 has been identified as a risk factor for iTTP in the Caucasian population. Interestingly, HLA-DRB1*08:03 was recently identified as a risk factor in the Japanese population. Combined in vitro and in silico MHC class II peptide presentation approaches suggest that an ADAMTS13-derived peptide may bind to both HLA-DRB1*11 and HLA-DRB1*08:03 through different anchor-residues. It is apparent that iTTP is associated with the presence of infectious microorganisms, viruses being the most widely associated with development of iTTP. Infections may potentially lead to loss of tolerance resulting in the shift from immune homeostasis to autoimmunity. In the model we propose in this review, infections disrupt the epithelial barriers in the gut or lung, promoting exposure of antigen presenting cells in the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue to the microorganisms. This may result in breach of tolerance through the presentation of microorganism-derived peptides that are homologous to ADAMTS13 on risk alleles for iTTP.

Genetics of inherited platelet disorders

The current review describes inherited platelet disorders, illustrates their clinical phenotype and molecular genetic defects. Platelets are the key molecules mediating haemostasis via adhesion, activation and clot formation at the site of injury. The inherited platelet disorders can be classified according to their platelet defects: receptor/cytoskeleton defects, secretion disorder, and signal transduction defect.

Patients with inherited thrombocytopathia present with mucous membrane bleedings (epistaxis, gingival bleeding) and may present with serious life threatening bleedings following surgery or trauma. Therefore, biochemical and molecular genetic characterization of inherited platelet disorders is important to understand these disorders and to support an efficient therapy.

Children and adults with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura associated with severe, acquired Adamts13 deficiency: comparison of incidence, demographic and clinical features

BACKGROUND

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) associated with severe, acquired ADAMTS13 deficiency is uncommonly reported in children. The incidence, demographic, and clinical features of these children, compared to adults, have not been described.

PROCEDURES

This study focused on children (<18 years old) and adults with TTP associated with severe, acquired ADAMTS13 deficiency, defined as activity <10%. The incidence rates for TTP in children and adults were calculated from patients enrolled in the Oklahoma TTP-HUS (Hemolytic-Uremic syndrome) Registry, 1996-2012. To describe demographic and clinical features, children with TTP were also identified from a systematic review of published reports and from samples sent to a reference laboratory for analysis of ADAMTS13.

RESULTS

The standardized annual incidence rate of TTP in children was 0.09 × 10(6) children per year, 3% of the incidence rate among adults (2.88 × 10(6) adults per year). Among the 79 children who were identified (one from the Oklahoma Registry, 55 from published reports, 23 from the reference laboratory), TTP appeared to be more common among females, similar to the relative increased frequency of women among adults with TTP, and more common in older children. Clinical data were available on 52 children; the frequency of severe renal failure, relapse, treatment with rituximab, and systemic lupus erythematosus in these children was similar to adults with TTP.

CONCLUSIONS

TTP associated with severe, acquired ADAMTS13 deficiency is uncommon in children. The demographic and clinical features of these children are similar to the features of adults with TTP.