Solvent/detergent fresh frozen plasma as primary treatment of acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Three patients with acute thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) (one associated with E. coli infection) received as primary treatment pooled fresh frozen plasma (FFP) virus inactivated by the solvent/detergent (SD) method, plus prednisolone. All three patients attained platelet counts of > 50 x 10(9)/l by days 7, 3 and 10, respectively. Serum creatinine became corrected in parallel. Neurological features were slow to resolve in one patient, and developed de novo during plasma infusion in another with rapid reversal once intensive plasma exchange with SDFFP was instituted. All patients are in stable remission > 1 years later. SDFFP was well tolerated with no febrile or other reactions, and all patients remained negative for markers of infection with HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses. One patient was positive for antibodies for hepatitis A virus and parvovirus B19 prior to treatment. The other two patients remained antibody negative at the end of therapy.