Thrombotic thrombocytopenic Purpura: A nurse's perspective on a decade of treatment in Sheffield, United Kingdom

TTP is a rare, life threatening condition, with an annual incidence of 3-11 cases per million people. A deficiency of a vWF multimer cleaving protein, ADAMTS13 is the cause of the condition. Quick & accurate diagnosis is crucial in the safe & effective treatment of individuals presenting with this condition. First line treatment is the removal of the resulting ulta-large vWF multimers left in the circulation by the lack of ADAMTS13 & immunosuppression of antibodies against ADAMTS13. In the last 3 years, introduction of a targeted therapy called Caplacizumab has seen a change in treatment. This paper provides an overview of the experience of the Sheffield, UK treatment team in the changes in TTP treatment pathways in the region. Finally exploring the impact introducing Caplacizumab into routine management has had on patient care & outcomes from a local nurse's perspective.