ABSTRACT
Among 47 patients with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), 8 patients were diagnosed to have postoperative-TTP. Two patients underwent vascular surgery, 5 patients coronary artery bypass grafts, and 1 patient resection of myocardial sarcoma. Prior to surgery, all patients except one had normal hemograms and platelet counts, and blood smears showed no schistocytes. Five to 19 days after surgery, all 8 patients developed postoperative TTP, which clinical feature was characterized by unexplained progressive encephalopathy, thrombocytopenia, and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia. In addition, in 3 patients, progressive gangrene of the toes also developed. Four patients achieved complete remission following exchange plasmapheresis and 1 patient spontaneous remission. Due to complicated surgical settings after surgery, recognition of TTP was often delayed and it contributed to death in 3 patients despite treatment with exchange plasmapheresis. In view of occurrence of postoperative TTP following cardiac and vascular surgeries, pathogenic mechanism for postoperative TTP may be explained on the basis of injury of diseased endothelial surface and release of a humoral factor(s) that results in platelet aggregation in the capillaries and arterioles. Our experience with these cases indicates that TTP may occur as a serious complication of cardiac and vascular surgeries, and early recognition of the diagnosis and institution of exchange plasmapheresis are of paramount importance for favorable outcome.
Subject(s)
Cardiac Surgical Procedures/adverse effects , Postoperative Complications , Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic/etiology , Vascular Surgical Procedures/adverse effects , Adult , Aged , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Plasmapheresis , Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic/diagnosis , Purpura, Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic/therapy , Risk Factors , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
A total of 48 patients with measurable advanced gastric adenocarcinoma (n = 16) or adenocarcinoma of the exocrine pancreas (n = 32) were prospectively treated with iproplatin at a starting dose of 270 mg/m2 intravenously over 2 hours. The dose was repeated every 28 days, and dose escalations or reductions were made on the basis of toxicity in the preceding course. No patient with gastric carcinoma achieved either a complete or partial response. One partial response and two complete responses were seen with pancreatic adenocarcinoma for an overall response rate of 10%. One patient has remained free of disease for more than 2 years. The major toxicities were granulocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. All toxicities were reversible upon discontinuation of the drug. On the basis of this trial, we conclude that iproplatin has no substantive activity in advanced gastric or pancreatic carcinomas.
