
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura laboratory findings
Introduction
Overview
Overview
An elevated concentration of creatinin, indirect bilirubin, retic count, dark urinary, schistocytes in peripheral blood smear is diagnostic of TTP.
Laboratory Findings
Laboratory Findings
- CBC shows:
- Thrombocytopenia (median platelet count 10,000/microL)
- Microangiopathic hemolytic anemia [1]:
| Hemolytic anemia |
|---|
- Peripheral blood smear: Schistocytes, including helmet cells and triangular cells, polychromasia, micro spherocytes and nucleated RBCs
- Urinalysis: Hematuria, proteinuria
- Serum creatinine: Increased
- Urine output: Decreased
- ADAMTS13 test: ADAMTS13 activity or inhibitor provides information for the diagnosis of the types and causes of TTP;
- ADAMTS13 activity: Decreased to < 10% during acute episodes of TTP.
- ADAMTS13 inhibitors test: This test is performed for patients with severe deficiency of ADAMTS13.
- Genetic testing: Should be done in suspected cases of,
- Positive family history
- Recurrent episodes
- Onset during childhood or pregnancy
- Absence of inhibitors
- Persistent ADAMTS13 deficiency
- Imaging: In cases with higher suspicion of TTP, imaging is not necessary but with focal neurological signs MRI or CT may be considered
- Blood culture: Patients with fever or signs and symptoms of infections
- Stool exam: Stool culture and toxin evaluation should be considered in patients with diarrhea as one of the main presentation especially bloody diarrhea
- Pathology: Tissue biopsy is not necessary for diagnosis, but it may show classic changes of a thrombotic microangiopathy including platelet microthrombi in small arterioles or capillaries, or hyaline changes in and around vessel walls.
References
References
- ↑ BRAIN MC, DACIE JV, HOURIHANE DO (1962). “Microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia: the possible role of vascular lesions in pathogenesis”. Br J Haematol. 8: 358–74. PMID 14014893.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sogand Goudarzi, MD [2]
