Lab Medicine Rounds Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP): Why it’s important to understand it
Sep 17, 2021
Marshall Mazepa, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota and TTP expert, shares crucial insights into thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. He discusses the importance of understanding TTP for timely diagnosis and the role of caplacizumab in treatment. The conversation also covers chronic complications like stroke and cognitive issues in survivors, the unpredictability of relapse, and the potential benefits of repeat ADAMTS13 testing. Finally, Mazepa outlines future directions for tailored therapies and the need for ongoing patient engagement in research.
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TTP is Rare but Deadly
- TTP is a rare but deadly disease that was once almost always fatal without treatment.
- Modern treatments have lowered fatality rate to below 10%, making recognition and diagnosis critical.
Caplacizumab Advances TTP Treatment
- Caplacizumab is a newly approved drug that improves acute immune TTP treatment by lowering hospital stay and preventing refractory disease.
- It acts as a "plasma exchange in a bottle" and is given with plasma exchange and after for 30 days.
Use Caplacizumab With Plasma Exchange
- Expert guidelines recommend adding caplacizumab to plasma exchange for diagnosed immune TTP patients, despite high costs and access challenges.
- More research is needed to identify patient subgroups who benefit most for cost-effective use.