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Glam Journal

What drugs can cause TTP

Author

David Craig

Updated on April 26, 2026

In this review, five drugs that have been the subject of the most and the most recent reports of drug-associated TTP-HUS are discussed: mitomycin C, cyclosporine, quinine, ticlopidine, and clopidogrel.

Which class of anti platelet drugs may cause TTP as an adverse effect?

The use of antiplatelet agents such as the thienopyridine derivates like Clopidogrel and ticlopidine, is known to be associated with drug induced TTP. TTP is a rare complication of thienopyridine treatment. Thienopyridine toxicity appears to occur by two different pathways, primarily characterized by the time of onset.

Can Plavix cause TTP?

A medical journal announced that the anticlotting drug Plavix may cause a rare blood disorder called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, or TTP.

How do you acquire TTP?

Acquired TTP is caused when a person’s body mistakingly makes antibodies that block the activity of the ADAMTS13 enzyme . THe ADAMTS13 enzyme normally helps control the activity of certain blood clotting factors. Treatment includes plasma exchange and in some cases may also include corticosteroid therapy or rituximab.

What pathogen causes TTP?

Although several factors such as viral and bacterial pathogens, pancreatitis, drugs, collagen-vascular diseases, cancers, and pregnancy have been reported to be associated with TTP, brucellosis is an exceptional cause of this disorder.

What is the major side effect of clopidogrel?

Easy bleeding/bruising, stomach upset/pain, diarrhea, and constipation may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects.

What is TTP syndrome?

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a blood disorder in which platelet clumps form in small blood vessels. This leads to a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia).

When should you suspect TTP?

TTP should be suspected in all patients with MAHA and thrombocytopenia unless an obvious alternative etiology is present. Although MAHA and thrombocytopenia are the hallmarks of TTP,2,3 end-organ involvement and its severity are extremely variable.

Is TTP autoimmune?

This form or TTP is considered to be an autoimmune disease and is caused when patients develop an antibody against the ADAMTS13 protease leading to low levels of the protease. If the disorder is present at birth (familial form), signs and symptoms may typically appear earlier, in infancy or early childhood.

How long can you live with TTP?

In the authors’ series of 126 patients, the estimated 10-year survival rate of patients without comorbid conditions was 82%, compared with a survival rate of 50% if comorbid conditions were present.

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Can aspirin prevent TTP?

Antiplatelet agents Aspirin and dipyridamole are the 2 main compounds considered to be potentially effective for TTP treatment.

Can you still get a blood clot while taking Plavix?

Normally, your body stops making blood clots during Plavix treatment. But if you develop TTP while you’re taking Plavix, your body makes blood clots everywhere, including inside your small blood vessels.

Can Plavix cause low white blood cell count?

It has been associated with a severe reduction in white blood cell count in between 0.8% and 1% of persons. The risk of this dangerous side effect with clopidogrel is about 0.04%, much less than with ticlopidine but twice that of aspirin.

Is TTP acquired or inherited?

Most cases of TTP are acquired, caused by autoantibody-mediated inhibition or clearance of ADAMTS13 activity. Hereditary TTP, caused by pathogenic variants in the ADAMTS13 gene, is much less common but no less life-threatening.

Can ecoli cause TTP?

HUS, and to some extent TTP, commonly occur following a diarrheal illness with enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Shigella dysenteriae serotype I.

Is TTP considered a disability?

If you are disabled because of Chronic Thrombocytopenia that is so severe it prevents you from working, you may well be entitled to Social Security Disability benefits.

How do you cure TTP?

Plasma exchange (also called plasmapheresis) is used to treat acquired TTP. This is a lifesaving procedure. It removes antibodies (proteins) from the blood that damage your ADAMTS13 enzyme. Plasma exchange also replaces the ADAMTS13 enzyme.

Is TTP the same as thrombocytopenia?

Both immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) are disorders that affect platelets. They may exhibit similar symptoms, however there are differences in the causes, complications, and treatments of the disorders.

What is epigastric TTP?

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a disorder characterized by platelet aggregation. and the formation of platelet thrombi, leading to thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic. hemolytic anemia, with or without renal failure or neurologic abnormalities, and without another. cause identified.1.

Which is safer aspirin or clopidogrel?

The CAPRIE trial reported that patients treated with clopidogrel had lower risk of composite vascular events (ischemic stroke, AMI, or death) than aspirin (5.32% vs 5.83%), with a relative risk reduction (RRR) of 8.7% in favor of clopidogrel (95% CI = 0.3–16.5, p 0.043).

Which is better aspirin or clopidogrel?

Conclusions. Clopidogrel was as effective as aspirin for prevention of recurrent stroke in real‐world practice. However, the mortality rate was significantly higher in the clopidogrel than in the aspirin group.

Is there an alternative to clopidogrel?

Besides oral anticoagulants, such as warfarin and the more recent dabigatran[9], and niche agents, such as cilostazol and ticlopidine[10,11], the most promising alternatives to clopidogrel in those with background aspirin therapy are prasugrel and ticagrelor.

What should be avoided during TTP?

Do not drink or eat anything that contains quinine. Quinine can make TTP worse. Quinine is found in tonic water, flavored drinks, and some foods. Read all food and drink labels to check for quinine. Ask your healthcare provider for a full list of drinks and foods that contain quinine.

Can drugs cause TTP?

Known risk factors for TTP include infection with Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and the use of drugs, including platelet aggregation inhibitors, quinine, and cocaine (1,3,4).

What causes TTP HUS?

TTP is caused by a deficiency of a normal blood enzyme that is named ADAMTS13 (you don’t need to know why it has this name). To cause TTP, ADAMTS13 must be absent or severely deficient. We usually describe a severe deficiency as less than 10% of the normal levels. Levels above 10% seem to be enough.

What are the symptoms of thrombotic microangiopathy?

Signs and symptoms The clinical presentation of TMA, although dependent on the type, typically includes: fever, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (see schistocytes in a blood smear), kidney failure, thrombocytopenia and neurological manifestations.

How do they test for TTP?

Coombs Test This blood test is used to find out whether TTP is the cause of hemolytic anemia. For this test, a sample of blood is drawn from a vein, usually in your arm. In TTP, hemolytic anemia occurs because red blood cells are broken into pieces as they try to squeeze around blood clots.

What is a thrombotic microangiopathy?

Thrombotic microangiopathies (TMA) are clinical syndromes defined by the presence of hemolytic anemia (destruction of red blood cells), low platelets, and organ damage due to the formation of microscopic blood clots in capillaries and small arteries.

Can you recover from TTP?

Most patients (over 90 percent) with acquired autoimmune thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura due to an autoantibody against ADAMTS13 (referred to as immune TTP) ultimately recover following treatment. However, relapse remains an important concern.

Does TTP resolve?

Corticosteroids are commonly given to patients with TTP. Responses to corticosteroid therapy alone have been documented. Increasing evidence supports the use of the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab in cases of TTP refractory to plasma exchange, with resolution of acute disease and prolonged remission.

When do you see Schistocytes?

Schistocytes are likely to be seen in hemolytic anemias, especially microangiopathic hemolytic anemia in which there is mechanical trauma to erythrocytes attempting to pass through fibrin strands in small vessels. Patients usually also have thrombocytopenia.