Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura as an etiology of thrombocytopenia in systemic lupus erythematosus: case report
Yasuaki Hayashino1, Hiroyasu Ishimaru1, Kazuhiro Hatta1 and Yosiaki Kohri1
(1) Department of Comprehensive Medical Care and Management, Tenri Yorozu Hospital, 200 Mishima, Tenri, 632-8552, Japan
(2) Present address: Department of General Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Kawahara, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
Received: 17 January 2002 Accepted: 21 October 2002
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is an unusual complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although the reported association between SLE and TTP is increasing, a few cases do improve without plasmatherapy. We report a case of TTP which was successfully treated without plasmatherapy, which might be underestimated as an etiology of thrombocytopenia in SLE. TTP should always be considered as a concomitant disease when Coombs'' negative hemolytic anemia or thrombocytopenia is seen in SLE patients.
