Weiss, Ivy

Abstract Background : Many idiopathic thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura (TTP) patients have severe deficiency of ADAMTS13, an enzyme that cleaves ultralarge von Willebrand multimers. We recently reported that thienopyridine-associated TTP is characterized by an immunologic pathway with severe ADAMTS13 deficiency and a non-immunologic pathway with higher ADAMTS13 activity levels. We now compare findings for idiopathic and thienopyridine-associated TTP patients. Methods : Clinical findings and laboratory findings were evaluated for 51 idiopathic and 39 thienopyridine-associated TTP. Results: Clinical findings were similar between idiopathic and thienopyridine-associated TTP for both severe ADAMTS13 deficient and non-deficient patients. Differences were noted in gender and age, relapse rates, and survival. Conclusion : Among TTP patients with ADAMTS13 deficiency, relapses are frequent in idiopathic TTP patients and Rituximab may be useful, while for thienopyridine-associated TTP patients spontaneous relapse are rare as long as no re-exposure occurs. Among ADAMTS13 non-deficient patients, survival is high following therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) for idiopathic patients but not for thienopyridine-associated TTP patients. Despite similarities, idiopathic and thienopyridine associated TTP probably have different initiating factors. ADAMTS13 activity and clinical characteristics in idiopathic and thienopyridine-associated TTP Idiopathic severe ADAMTS13 deficiency (n=29) †Thienopyridine severe ADAMTS13 deficiency (n=26) Idiopathic non-severe ADAMTS13 deficiency (n=22) †Thienopyridine non-severe ADAMTS13 deficiency (n=13) *p<0.05 for comparison of severe ADAMTS13 deficiency versus non-severe ADAMTS13 deficiency. †Thienopyridine-associated TTP clinical and presenting neutralizing autoantibody data was summarized from the Journal of the American College of Cardiology publication by Bennett et al. in 2007. ‡Thienopyridine-associated TTP remission autoantibody data was summarized Tsai et al, 2002, Bennett et al, 2000, and Orimo et al, 2002, and included 3 patients. §Data from average of ADAMTS13 deficient and non-deficient cohorts. Mean Age 41 67 47 60 Sex (% female) 79% 54% 86% 39% Platelet count/mm3 (mean)* 18,978 9,269 51,409 35,000 Platelet count <20,000/mm3* 69% 96% 23% 38% Hemoglobin (mg/dl; mean) 8.5 8.3 9.0 8.4 Creatinine (mg/dl; mean)* 1.5 2.2 3.2 3.0 Creatinine >2.5 mg/dl* 11% 27% 48% 46% 30-day survival 96% 85% 90% 62% Long-term relapse* 42% 8% 0% 0% Neutralizing autoantibodies to ADAMTS13 (prior to TPE) § 79% 100% 27% 0% Neutralizing autoantibodies to ADAMTS 13 (measured at remission) § 55% 33%‡ 33% 0%

Abstract Background: The Surveillance, Epidemiology & Risk Factors for TTP (SERF-TTP) study is the largest prospective cohort of idiopathic TTP cases to date. Methods: Patients with first episode of idiopathic TTP were enrolled at 11 sites in the US. Exclusion criteria include solid organ or allogeneic stem cell transplant, anti-neoplastic therapy or malignancy. All patients underwent therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE). Remission is defined as platelet count >150,000/mm3. ADAMTS13 activity was measured by fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay (FRETS-vWF73, Peptides Int.). ADAMTS13 inhibitor was assessed by ELISA (Technozym ADAMTS13 INH ELISA, Technoclone) and functional inhibition of normal ADAMTS13 activity (modified FRETS). Differences between the groups was evaluated by Chi-square test, t-test or Fisher’s exact test. Results: Complete data is available for 57 cases. 84% were female & median age was 42. ADAMTS13 was severely deficient (<10%) in 53%, moderate (10–50%) in 8%, & normal (>50%) in 39%. Adverse events were frequent & most commonly include citrate toxicity and allergic reactions. Long-term followup was available for 56 patients, and overall relapse rate was 25% with median time to relapse of 11 months. The relapse rate was 41% in patients with severe ADAMST13 deficiency & 0% in patients with normal ADAMTS13 activity (p=0.0077). Conclusions: Severe ADAMTS13 deficiency does not define all cases of idiopathic TTP, yet is associated with a unique syndrome characterized by severe thrombocytopenia, normal renal function, presence of ADAMTS13 neutralizing autoantibodies & high risk of relapse. Non-ADAMTS13 deficient idiopathic TTP has clinical features similar to thrombotic microangiopathies associated with stem cell transplant or drugs such as quinine, yet has a better than expected overall survival after TPE. There is likely an alternate disease mechanism for this cohort, possibly immunologic, which may be responsive to TPE and warrants further study. ADAMTS13 < 10% n=30 ADAMTS13 > 50% n=22 p-value * t-test, ** Fisher’s Exact Test, # Chi-Square Test Presenting Labs Hemoglobin (mean) 8.5 9.2 0.22* Platelet count (mean x10^9/L) 19 57 <0.0005* Serum creatinine (mean) 1.33 3.9 0.0012* ADAMTS13 antibody (neutralizing & non-neutralizing) % 100 63.6 0.0004** ADAMTS13 neutralizing antibody % 83 35 .0003# Presenting Symptoms Neurologic symptoms present 45 52.4 0.23# Diarrhea 23 30.4 0.79# Infection 40 43.5 0.79# Past Medical History Connective Tissue Disease % 10 8.5 0.28# Family history of TTP % 0 4.6 0.11# Remission Labs Hemoglobin (mean) 12.2 8.5 0.16* Platelet count (mean x10^9/L)) 169 152 0.15* Serum creatinine (mean) 1.02 3.7 0.0009* Outcomes Therapy-related Adverse events % 71 55 0.24# Time (days) to remission (plt > 150,000) 9.7 9.2 0.89* Early remission (< 8 days) % 73 57 0.20# 30 day Exacerbation rate % 35 28 0.63# 30 day Survival % 96.6 90.0 0.56** Long-term Relapse % 41 0 0.0077**