Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid antibodies: effective treatment with plasma exchange and immunosuppression

D C Hess; K Sethi; E Awad

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid antibodies: effective treatment with plasma exchange and immunosuppression

J Rheumatol. 1992 Sep;19(9):1474-8.

Authors

D C Hess¹, K Sethi, E Awad

Affiliation

¹ Department of Neurology, VA Medical Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta 30910.

PMID: 1433020

Abstract

We describe 2 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with neurological complications and thrombocytopenia, who, upon further investigation, were found to have thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. While neither patient responded to treatment with corticosteroids, both responded to plasma exchange and intravenous cyclophosphamide. This highlights the need to carefully consider this diagnosis in patients with SLE presenting with neurological complications and thrombocytopenia.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
Anemia, Hemolytic / complications
Antibodies, Antiphospholipid / analysis*
Antiphospholipid Syndrome / complications*
Antiphospholipid Syndrome / immunology
Antiphospholipid Syndrome / therapy*
Brain / pathology
Brain Diseases / complications
Brain Diseases / diagnosis
Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
Female
Humans
Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
Injections, Intravenous
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / complications*
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / immunology
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / therapy*
Plasma Exchange*
Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / complications*
Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / immunology
Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / therapy*
Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

Antibodies, Antiphospholipid
Immunosuppressive Agents
Cyclophosphamide