ABSTRACT
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is a thrombotic microangiopathy related to a severe deficiency of ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type 1 repeats, member 13). In this article, we describe the first case of a young male adult suffering from a hereditary TTP revealed by recurrent strokes, relapsing despite antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy. Because of the persistent moderate thrombocytopenia, plasmatic ADAMTS13 activity was investigated and was found lower than 5% in the absence of anti-ADAMTS13 IgG. Direct sequencing of ADAMTS13 gene led to the diagnosis of Upschaw-Schulman syndrome (USS). Inherited TTP or USS is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disease leading to a severe deficiency of ADAMTS13 mostly beginning in childhood or in young female adult during pregnancy. Our patient was treated with fresh frozen plasma every 2 weeks. One year after diagnosis, he was free of neurological symptoms. Around 12 cases of inherited TTP diagnosed in adults (outside pregnancy) are described in literature. Only 4 of them exhibited a stroke. This case is the first late onset genetic TTP revealed by recurrent strokes, moderate thrombocytopenia without anemia.
Subject(s)
ADAMTS13 Protein/genetics , Mutation , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic/genetics , Stroke/etiology , ADAMTS13 Protein/deficiency , Adult , DNA Mutational Analysis , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Heredity , Humans , Male , Pedigree , Phenotype , Plasma , Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic/complications , Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic/diagnosis , Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic/therapy , Recurrence , Risk Factors , Stroke/diagnosis , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Erdheim-Chester disease (ECD) is a rare form of non-Langerhans cell histiocytosis characterized by a xanthogranulomatous infiltration of tissues by spumous histiocytes. Neurological involvement is frequent, but ischemic strokes have been exceptionally described. We report the case of a 68-year-old woman who presented with an acute ischemic stroke associated with a multisystemic disorder including insipidus diabetes, infiltration of the aorta and the carotid arteries, perirenal infiltration, aortitis, and lytic bone lesions. The surgical biopsy of a lumbar vertebra revealed an infiltration of spumous macrophages consistent with ECD. Many ischemic symptoms can occur in ECD. Ischemic strokes, infrequently reported, might be caused by perivascular infiltration and adventitial fibrosis of the supra-aortic trunks or intracranial arteries.
