Clinical Medicine Insights: Blood Disorders

A 21-year-old male presented to the emergency department after a 5-day history of recurrent vomiting and decreased urine output. ­History revealed ingestion of ibuprofen. During the diagnostic workup, the following was identified: white blood cell count 13.4 (×10(3)/mcL), hemoglobin 11.9 (×10(6)/mcL) with an MCV of 73 fL, hematocrit 34% and platelets were 31,000/mcL, sodium of 130 mmol/L, potassium of 5.1 mmol/L, chloride of 83 mmol/L, bicarbonate of 21 mmol/L, blood urea nitrogen of 184 mg/dL and creatinine of 19.1 mg/dL. He was later diagnosed with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) based on the fact that he presented with most components of the TTP pentad (except for fever), which included altered mental status, acute kidney injury, thrombocytopenia, and evidence of red cell fragmentation and his ADAMTS13 level was found to be less than 10% prior to therapy. The patient then received plasma exchange, oral corticosteroids, and hemodialysis, which led to a full recovery of platelet count and renal function.