Intravenous immunoglobulin as an adjunct to plasma exchange for the treatment of chronic thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura

Vox Sang. 2007 Aug;93(2):173-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1423-0410.2007.00939.x.

Abstract

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a life-threatening disease. Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is the most effective therapy; however, despite TPE, about one-third of TTP patients will relapse. A subset of patients with TTP has antibodies to ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13) and may become resistant to conventional treatments. We describe a patient with TTP and high-titre anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies who developed a chronic, relapsing course of TTP despite frequent TPE. Once adjuvant treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) was added, remission was achieved. Even during remission, anti-ADAMTS13 antibodies remained elevated. We conclude that IVIG may sustain remission in some patients with chronic, relapsing TTP.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ADAM Proteins / blood
  • ADAM Proteins / drug effects
  • ADAM Proteins / immunology*
  • ADAMTS13 Protein
  • Aged
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Chronic Disease
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Plasma Exchange / methods*
  • Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / drug therapy*
  • Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / therapy
  • Remission Induction / methods
  • Secondary Prevention

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous
  • ADAM Proteins
  • ADAMTS13 Protein
  • ADAMTS13 protein, human