Case Report
A Case of Congenital Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (Upshaw-Schulman Syndrome) with the History of Three Deceased Siblings
Göksel Leblebisatan*
Department of Pediatric Hematology, Cukurova University, Turkey
*Corresponding author: Göksel Leblebisatan, Department of Pediatric Hematology, Cukurova University, Sarıçam/Adana/Turkey
Published: 15 Mar, 2017
Cite this article as: Leblebisatan G. A Case of Congenital
Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
(Upshaw-Schulman Syndrome) with the
History of Three Deceased Siblings.
Ann Clin Case Rep. 2017; 2: 1302.
Abstract
Upschaw-Schulman Syndrome is the recessively inherited form of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP). This report presented a child with congenital TTP or Upshaw-Schulman syndrome with the history of three deceased siblings. Congenital TTP may result in multiple losses in the same family. Clinicians should aware the disease to early diagnosis.
Introduction
Congenital Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura is first described by Upschaw and Schulman as an inherited autosomal recessive form of TTP [1]. The pathophysiology of TTP has been mysterious until recently. Congenital TTP is associated with a deficiency in a plasma metalloprotease that cleaves a specific peptide bond in the von Willebrand factor (VWF) subunit [2]. Infections or vaccinations may precipitate the disease as repeated thrombotic thrombocytopenic angiopatic episodes [3]. Here, we report a child with congenital TTP or Upshaw-Schulman syndrome with history of three siblings death.
Case Presentation
An three year old girl born of a first degree consanguineous marriage presented to us with
generalized petechias, vomitting, pallor and jaundice. She was stuporous. There was no evidence of
meningeal irritation in the patient. Patient who developed respiratory arrest was entubated and was
followed on mechanical ventilator.
Referring to the history, we learned that she was born as healthy baby from the 7th gestation
of healthy 38 years old mother as non-identical twins. Her mother and father had first-degree
consanguineous marriages. Family history revealed that her 3 siblings died before diagnosis made.
First one was girl gender and died the at 9 months years old after a febrile seizure without any
other findings or knowledge of families. Also other two siblings died at 18 months years old after
a hospitalization in consequence of febrile seizure and severe vomiting. Interestingly, all cases had
a hematoma history after intramuscular injection. Fever and mucosal hemorrhage was common
findings with all deceased siblings. Three girl siblings including the patient’s twin and a male sibling
are healthy.
At the clinical follow up of the patient, her glasgow coma scale was 3 and pupillary bilateral
fix dilated. System examinations were normal as cardiac, respiratory and abdominal evaluations.
Laboratory evaluations revealed leukopenia and thrombocytopenia with normal renal and
hepatic functions with coagulopathy with all day at hospitalization (Table 1). Peripheral blood
smear evaluation showed intravascular hemolysis findings like schistocytes, helmet cells and
thrombocytopenia like microangiopathic haemolytic anemia. Her immunoglobulin levels were
normal. Subarachnoid hemorrhage was detected on Cerebral Tomography.
As a treatment; laboratory hematologic findings and intravascular hemolysis on peripheral blood
smear reminded us sepsis and dissemine intravascular coagulation. Seftriaxone and vancomycine
were given as an antibiotherapy beside replacement therapy with platelet infusion, fresh frozen
plasma and blood transfusion. She was unresponsive to treatment and her cytopenia were refractory
to the all transfusion. Because of history of consanguinity between parents and her lost siblings with
hemorrhage an inherited defects were suspected related to DIC clinic. After ADAMST13 activity
assay revealed 1% activity, with the absence of antibody against ADAMTS13; congenital TTP
diagnosis was made. Unfortunately the patient was lost after brain death 5th day of hospitalization. Her family was informed about the disease by genetical counseling.
Table 1
Table 1
Laboratory evaluations revealed leukopenia and thrombocytopenia with normal renal and hepatic functions with coagulopathy with all day at hospitalization.
Discussion
The classical description of TTP consists of the pentad of
microangiopathic haemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, fever, renal
and neurological dysfunction. However, this pentad is present in only
40% of cases [4]. Congenital TTP is usually seen in the newborn or
during childhood but acquired TTP is almost always seen in young
adults. TTP attacks generally seeen after infection trigger in some
patients while it is typically present with neonatal jaundice and
thrombocytopenia [3].
Patients with congenital TTP are deficient in a plasma
metalloprotease (ADAMTS 13) which belongs to the ADAMTS
(an acronym for a disintegrin and metalloprotease with
thrombospondin-1–like domains) and it is due to several genetic
defects on chromosome 9q34. Severe deficiency of ADAMTS13
activity seen the majority of patients that is a like a scissors cleaving
large multimers of von willebrand protein to smaller and less active
ones. In the absence of this protein large multimers cannot be cleaved
and active smaller ones cause “spontaneous” platelet adhesion and
aggregation [5]. The clinical picture gives some non spesific complaints
as fever, nausea, vomiting, and while progression of the disease
neurologic findings and renal failure may be seen. Hematological
evaluations revels pallor, purpura and jaundice while laboratory
findings are more valuable with thrombocytopenia, unconjugeted
hyperbilirubinemia, increased LDH levels and the peripheral smear
posses diagnostic findings intravascular hemolysis like spherocytes,
fragmented erythrocytes, erythroblasts and polychromasia with
basophilic cytoplasms [4].
The treatment of TTP is depends on restoring the ADAMST13
function or getting away the highly active von willebrant proteins
by exchange plasmaphresis or fresh frozen plasma infusions. While
some other treatment options are started to use at older and immune
based disease as Anti CD20 or immunosupressive treatments [6].
Our case which was initially misdiagnosed with sepsis then
the clinic came to light with his presentation with MAHA and thrombocytopenia. TTP should be considered in any condition
with MAHA and thrombocytopenia with or without renal or
neurological dysfunction, without any other obvious cause [3]. This
unusual case of congenital TTP with subarachnoid hemorrhage and
thrombocytopenia without renal, neurological or any other systemic
involvement has been brought out to emphasize the expanding
phenotype of hereditary TTP. With the understanding of the role of
ADAMTS 13 protease, the disease is being diagnosed more often. It
is hoped that plasma or recombinant purified ADAMTS 13 will be
available in the future.
As a result, it is important to emphasize, for newborn and infant
period; if any clinic combination of MAHA is present without
complementary sepsis or DIC table, althoughit is rare, congenital TTP
diagnosis should be considered. In these cases, genetic counseling,
early diagnosis and timely consideration of TTP treatment modalities
can be lifesaving and brings further benefits for the patients.
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