Causes
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is caused by the body producing antibodies against the enzyme ADAMTS13. This prevents the enzyme from breaking down aggregations of ‘unusually large von Willebrand factor’ (ULVWF) in the blood, resulting in platelets clumping together to form clots in the blood vessels.
This leads to red blood cells being broken up, and damage to the tissues, in particular the brain, kidney and heart.
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