Article Text
Summary
Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) comprises a process of sequential endothelial damage, microvascular thrombosis, consumptive thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia that can affect several organs, including the kidney. A 36-year-old woman was presented with a petechial rash 3 weeks after an upper respiratory tract infection. Laboratory results showed normocytic normochromic anaemia, thrombocytopenia and evidence of TMA with decreased haptoglobin, elevated serum lactate dehydrogenase and a peripheral blood smear with numerous schistocytes. Treatment included daily plasmapheresis and prednisolone, with favourable clinical evolution. Antibodies anti-ADAMTS13 were positive, establishing the diagnosis of acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. There was also serological evidence of a recent infection by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and therefore the preceding respiratory tract infection by this agent was the most likely trigger for the disease. Due to the high mortality rate and poor outcomes, the prompt diagnostic and treatment are crucial in this rare disease. The identification of triggers related to this pathology can allow new therapeutic targets or preventive strategies.
- immunology
- renal medicine
- haematology (incl blood transfusion)
Statistics from Altmetric.com
Footnotes
Contributors FCA and PP contributed to the study design and manuscript idea. FCA was responsible for the manuscript conception. FCA and RA were involved in the data collection. PP and CP supervised the study. All authors have approved the final version of the manuscript.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient consent Obtained.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.