ABSTRACT
Transplantation-associated microangiopathy (TAM) is a severe complication of stem
cell transplantation. Although TAM shares many features with idiopathic thrombotic
thrombocytopenic purpura or hemolytic uremic syndrome, the prognosis of TAM is worse.
Clinical similarities and the observation that uncleaved ultralarge von Willebrand
factor (ULVWF) multimers are found in the circulation of patients suffering from TAM
suggest a defect in VWF proteolysis that may be due to a deficiency in ADAMTS13 activity.
In this study the course of 28 consecutive patients, who received an allogeneic stem
cell transplant was correlated to ADAMTS13 activity. Before stem cell transplantation,
mean ADAMTS13 activity was within normal range. Within the first 8 weeks, mean activity
declined to less than half the baseline activity. Furthermore, most of the patients
showed normalization of ADAMTS13 activity. Low levels of ADAMTS13 activity were not
correlated with clinical signs of thrombotic microangiopathy. However, two patients
with clinical TAM had the lowest activity of all patients when suffering a severe
bout of microangiopathy. Plasma exchange was not able to normalize ADAMTS13 deficiency
in these patients, suggesting inactivation or consumption of ADAMTS13 activity in
TAM.
KEYWORDS
Stem cell transplantation - thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura - hemolytic uremic
syndrome - transplantation-associated microangiopathy - von Willebrand factor - ADAMTS13
- plasma exchange
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Karim KentoucheM.D.
Department of Hematology, Children's Hospital, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena
Kochstr. 2, 07745 Jena, Germany
Email: Karim.Kentouche@med.uni-jena.de