What is Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)?

What is TTP?

• TTP is a rare, life-threatening blood disorder. In TTP, blood clots form in small blood vessels throughout your body. The clots can limit or block the flow of blood to your organs, such as your brain, kidneys, and heart. This can prevent your organs from working properly and can damage your organs.
• The increased clotting that occurs in TTP also uses up your platelets. Platelets are tiny blood cells that help form blood clots.
• These cell fragments stick together to seal small cuts and breaks in your blood vessels to stop bleeding. When your platelets are used up, you do not have enough platelets to form blood clots when necessary. This may cause bleeding and bruising.
• “Thrombotic” refers to the blood clots that form.
• “Thrombocytopenic” means the blood has a lower-than-normal platelet count.
• “Purpura” refers to purple bruises caused by bleeding under your skin.
• TTP usually occurs suddenly and lasts for days or weeks, but it can continue for months. TTP can also cause red blood cells to break apart faster than your body can replace them. This leads to a rare form of anemia called hemolytic anemia.
• TTP can be fatal. Without treatment, it can cause long-term problems, such as brain damage or a stroke.

What are the symptoms?

• The symptoms of TTP may happen suddenly. Most people who have inherited TTP begin to have symptoms soon after birth. However, some do not have symptoms until they are adults.
• The symptoms of TTP are caused by blood clots, a low platelet count, and damaged red blood cells. Your symptoms may include:
• Petechiae, which are small, flat red spots under the skin caused by blood leaking from blood vessels
• Purpura, which is bleeding in your skin that can cause red, purple, or brownish- yellow spots
• Paleness or jaundice (a yellowish color of the skin or whites of the eyes)
• Extreme tiredness
• A fever
• A fast heart rate or shortness of breath
• Headache, speech changes, confusion, coma, stroke, or seizure
• A low amount of urine, or protein or blood in your urin
• Feeling sick to your stomach (nausea), vomiting, and diarrhea