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Cocaine-Induced Acute Hepatitis and Thrombotic MicroangiopathyReply
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| Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings. |
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In Reply: Drs El-Rahman and Ammar suggest an equivalence between TMA and TTP, and advocate for plasma exchange with fresh-frozen plasma. Thrombotic microangiopathy represents a syndrome that may result from different conditions, which include TTP, hemolytic-uremic syndrome, acute postpartum and contraceptive-associated renal failure, malignant hypertension, HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count in association with eclampsia) syndrome, cancer, immunosuppressive therapy, and catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome.1-2 Not all share the severe deficiency of, or the inhibitory activity against, the von Willebrand factorcleaving protease ADAMTS-13, which is present in TTP, leaving unclear the role of plasma exchange in the treatment of (for example) adult patients with hemolytic-uremic syndrome.3
In some cases, TMA is probably related to the presence of an antibody, similar to catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome. In an experimental model of TMA mimicking TTP, removal of the plasma was sufficient to establish remission without needing infusion of healthy plasma.4 A review . . . [Full Text of this Article]
Javier Fernández, MD
jfdez@clinic.ub.es
Francesc Balaguer, MD
Liver Unit Institut de Malalties Digestives
Miguel Lozano, MD
Hemotherapy and Hemostasis Department Hospital Clinic Barcelona University of Barcelona Barcelona, Spain
RELATED LETTER
Cocaine-Induced Acute Hepatitis and Thrombotic Microangiopathy
Francesc Balaguer, Javier Fernández, Miguel Lozano, Rosa Miquel, and Antoni Mas
JAMA. 2005;293(7):797-798.
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RELATED ARTICLE
Cocaine-Induced Acute Hepatitis and Thrombotic Microangiopathy
Alaa M. Abd El-Rahman and Hussam Ammar
JAMA. 2005;293(22):2715.
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