Thrombocytopenia is a condition that occurs when the platelet count in your blood is too low. Platelets are tiny blood cells that are made in the bone marrow from larger cells. Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) is a rare, life-threatening blood disorder, and is considered a true medical emergency. TTP is diagnosed at a rate of 3-4 in 1 million people per year. Potentially fatal complications can result from internal blood clotting, placing the organs at risk for damage due to a lack of oxygen and nutrients from blood. TTP can be fatal, and without treatment, it can cause long-term problems, such as brain damage or stroke.
Hereditary TTP: 1% of TTP cases are due to an inherited deficiency or abnormality of the ADAMTS 13 enzyme
Immune-medicated TTP: 99% of TTP cases have no defined cause. In all cases, there is a decreased level of the ADAMTS 13 enzyme as a result of antibodies attacking the enzyme.