Mortality in acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in the pre-caplacizumab era

Despite the effectiveness of plasma exchange (PEX) and immunosuppressants in the treatment of acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (aTTP), a number of patients still die as a result of the disease. Whether caplacizumab could rescue these patients remains still unsettled. The objective of this study was to characterise mortality patterns and prognostic factors in the first episode of aTTP. We queried the Spanish TTP Registry for patients with a diagnosis of aTTP in their presenting episode who fulfilled complete clinical and follow-up data ( n = 102). The patients were diagnosed between 2004 and 2018, and all were treated with daily PEX and corticosteroids. Clinical and laboratory data were analysed at diagnosis and during the treatment course. Eight patients (7.7%) died between 12 h and 36 days after presentation, and could be classified into three patterns: death before treatment, early death driven by acute cardiac or neurologic events, and late death due to unremitted aTTP. Stupor or coma at diagnosis and platelet count