Successful management of a Jehovah's Witness with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura unwilling to be treated with therapeutic plasma exchange

J Clin Apher. 2007;22(6):330-2. doi: 10.1002/jca.20150.

Abstract

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a life-threatening disease treated successfully with plasma exchange. Jehovah's Witnesses whose religious beliefs preclude them from accepting plasma exchange may require alternative forms of therapy. We report a case of one such patient who presented with TTP, whom we successfully managed with vincristine and responded favorably without the need for plasma exchange.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Jehovah's Witnesses
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / metabolism
  • Plasma Exchange
  • Plasmapheresis
  • Platelet Count
  • Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic / therapy*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tubulin Modulators / therapeutic use
  • Vincristine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Tubulin Modulators
  • Vincristine
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase