Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura or immune thrombocytopenia in a sickle cell/β+-thalassemia patient: a rare and challenging condition

Abstract

The diagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is one of the possible diagnosis when a patient is admitted with unexpected micro-angiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia. The combination of sickle cell/β(+)-thalassemia and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is rare and triggering. This article describes the poor outcome of a patient with sickle cell/β(+)-thalassemia presenting with gingival bleeding, severe thrombocytopenia and anemia. The patient had normal renal function, no neurological deficit and he was initially treated as immune thrombocytopenic purpura. He eventually died due to multi-organ failure and brain hemorrhage even though he had started plasma exchange sessions. The co-existence of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and sickle cell anemia is making the diagnosis of the former difficult. Early and rapid intervention is critical to the outcome.

Keywords: ADAMTS-13; Plasma exchange; Sickle cell; Thrombocytopenia; Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura; β-thalassemia.