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Welcome to the April, 2013 edition of SciEP newsletter, providing monthly summaries of articles on science & education related topics of interest to scientist and professionals. The mission of our journals is to provide an open access forum for publishing new findings on issues pertinent to scientific and academic field. We also invite you to submit original research papers, review articles, short reports, or case studies are considered for publication in our Multidisciplinary Journals.

American Journal of Public Health Research
DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-1-1-3

The Implementation of a Tele-Homecare System with Service Oriented Architecture and HL7 Message Transmission Standard
Ching-Sung Wang

American Journal of Medical and Biological Research
DOI: 10.12691/ajmbr-1-1-2

The Influence of Ethanol on Pyruvate Kinases Activity in Vivo, in Vitro, in Silico
Lelevich Sergey Vladimirovich, Khrustalev Vladislav Victorovich, Barkovsky Eugene Victorovich, Shedogubova Tatyana Aleksandrovna

American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine
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Clinical and Histological Features in Wegener Granulomatosis
Li Cavoli Gioacchino, Passantino Rita, Bono Luisa, Tortorici Calogera, Ferrantelli Angelo, Giammarresi Carlo, Rotolo Ugo

American Journal of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology
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The Curse of Lymphatic Filariasis: Would the Continual Use of Diethylcarbamazine Eliminate this Scourge in Papua New Guinea?
Anne Lanham, Lillian Mwanri

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A Rare Presentation of COVID-19 Associated Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura; Therapeutic Challenges

Eman EL-Sawalhy*, Hammam Shereef, Hana Manzoor, Fadi Abuhmaid, Shahina Patel

Department of Internal Medicine, Beaumont Hospital, Dearborn, MI

Abstract: Since COVID-19 has been declared a global pandemic, variable clinical presentations have been reported, most commonly with respiratory symptoms and less commonly gastrointestinal or neurological symptoms. Hematologic disorders in the form of thrombotic microangiopathies (TMA) such as immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia (MAHA) were also linked to the COVID-19 positive population. Many studies have proposed several possible theories, including viral-mediated, endothelial related, immune triggered, and consumptive mechanisms. In most of the literature, the severity of the disease is associated with more severe thrombocytopenia, with lower levels being associated with higher mortality. We herein report a case of a patient who tested positive for COVID-19 and went on to develop severe thrombocytopenia. Workup of the thrombocytopenia revealed that he had developed acquired Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Our case report highlights the need for early recognition, prompt diagnosis, and the subsequent initiation of urgent treatment.

Keywords: COVID-19, TTP

Received December 15, 2020; Revised December 22, 2020; Accepted December 30, 2020

Citation: Eman EL-Sawalhy, Hammam Shereef, Hana Manzoor, Fadi Abuhmaid, Shahina Patel, A Rare Presentation of COVID-19 Associated Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura; Therapeutic Challenges. American Journal of Medical Case Reports, 9 (3). 147-149. January 2021. doi:10.12691/ajmcr-9-3-3

1. Introduction

Thrombocytopenia is a common manifestation of various infectious diseases; viruses were found to be the most common pathogens that induce thrombocytopenia, as well as bacteria followed by fungi [1]. Thrombocytopenia was found in 5 - 41.7% of COVID-19 positive patients [2]. TTP is a potential fatal clinical syndrome caused by autoantibodies against VWF cleaving Metalloprotease ADAMTS13 with severe deficiency of ADAMTS13 activity <10 IU/dl to support the diagnosis of TTP if a patient presents with a thrombotic microangiopathic hemolytic anemia [3]. Up to date, the pieces of literature associating COVID-19 with acquired TTP are scanty; thus, we sought to report this case to shed light on the possible correlation as the rapid identification and treatment of this entity is crucial to prevent any unwanted morbidity and mortality.

2. Case Presentation

A 49-year-old African American male with a past medical history notable for hypertension and hyperlipidemia presents to the ED with rectal bleeding and hematuria lasting for a few days. He was found to have COVID-19, but he did not endorse any respiratory symptoms at the time of presentation. Laboratory works up was ordered and showed: hemoglobin of 8 g/dl, platelet count of 25 Thousand/mL, normal renal function, LDH 619 U/L. His most recent labs a few years ago were within the normal range. No abnormalities were found during the physical exam other than left lower quadrant abdominal tenderness. CT abdomen and pelvis were unremarkable. He was presumed to have ITP related to COVID-19 infection, but TTP was also on the differential diagnosis list. The patient's hematuria and rectal bleeding were resolved, and he was stable for discharge with a plan of outpatient follow up. He was discharged on steroids and recommended to follow up in one week, but he was lost. After three weeks, the patient re-presented to the ED with vomiting and confusion. His labs showed hemoglobin 6.4 g/dl, platelet 12 Thousand/mL, Cr 4.45 mg/dl, LDH 1959U/L, reticulocyte count 9.5%, haptoglobin <8 mg/dl, with peripheral blood smear demonstrating an increased number of schistocytes with associated nucleated red blood cells (nRBCs) and left myeloid shift was noted which was consistent with microangiopathic destruction of RBCs (Figure 1). ADAMTS13 was sent in the patient's first admission but resulted after the patient had been discharged, the value was <5%, consistent with TTP. Other viral markers, including HCV-AB, HBsAg, HBc IgM, were unremarkable. A dialysis catheter was placed, and urgent plasmapheresis started. The patient's encephalopathy improved after the first plasmapheresis. He received six rounds of plasmapheresis. The complete blood count (CBC), LDH, and haptoglobin have been regularly rechecked throughout his hospital stay and showed significant improvement after plasmapheresis (Table 1).

Figure 1. Peripheral blood smear with schistocytes, higher magnification

Table 1. Laboratory findings of the patient on each day of hospital admission

3. Discussion

TTP is a relatively rare yet is a severe and serious complication of thrombotic microangiopathy that was first described in literature back in 1924 by Dr. Eli Moschcowitz [4]. TTP can be congenital and familial due to mutations to ADAMST13, idiopathic, or acquired due to commonly; infections, medications, pregnancy, malignancy, vasculitides, etc. [5]. Multiple viruses, especially RNA viruses, were found to play a role as a trigger factor for microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and subsequently TTP by different mechanisms proposed such as direct endothelial damage with subsequent release of VWF, autoantibodies against ADAMTS13, immune destruction of the platelets, direct Bone Marrow invasion, or increased consumption during thrombus formation. [1,3,5,6,7]. TTP is a medical emergency that requires close attention from clinicians as mortality can reach as high as 80-90% If left untreated; however, with the treatment, the overall mortality can be reduced to 20-30 % [6]. TTP diagnosis can be made based on the reduced activity of ADAMTS13 (<10 IU/dL) in addition to evidence of MAHA (Schistocytes, elevated LDH, decrease hemoglobin, decrease haptoglobin) in a patient with or without symptoms or signs of multi-organ damage favor the diagnosis of TTP [3,6,8].

4. Conclusion

TTP can be triggered by viruses that may include COVID-19 as in our patient after excluding other possible triggering causes. Plasma transfusion or exchange appears to be the most effective treatment for TTP patients in the setting of COVID-19. As we continue to learn about the COVID-19 pandemic, its manifestations, and pathophysiology, our case serves as an example of how severely this virus can present.

References

[1]   | Gauer, R. and M.M. Braun, Thrombocytopenia. American family physician, 2012. 85(6): p. 612-622.
[2]   | Zhang, Y., et al., Mechanisms involved in the development of thrombocytopenia in patients with COVID-19. Thrombosis research, 2020. 193: p. 110-115.
[3]   | Saha, M., J.K. McDaniel, and X.L. Zheng, Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: pathogenesis, diagnosis and potential novel therapeutics. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 2017. 15(10): p. 1889-1900.
[4]   | Moschcowitz, E. Hyaline thrombosis of the terminal arterioles and capillaries: a hitherto undescribed disease. in Proc NY Pathol Soc. 1924.
[5]   | da Silva, R.L., Viral-associated thrombotic microangiopathies. Hematology/oncology and stem cell therapy, 2011. 4(2): p. 51-59.
[6]   | Radhi, M. and S.L. Carpenter, Thrombotic microangiopathies. International Scholarly Research Notices, 2012. 2012.
[7]   | Tadkalkar, N., et al., Dengue virus NS1 exposure affects von Willebrand factor profile and platelet adhesion properties of cultured vascular endothelial cells. Indian Journal of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, 2019. 35(3): p. 502-506.
[8]   | Wu, Y.-C., C.-S. Chen, and Y.-J. Chan, The outbreak of COVID-19: An overview. Journal of the Chinese Medical Association, 2020. 83(3): p. 217.