Key result
Prompt plasma exchange reverses severe traumatic brain injury-induced thrombotic microangiopathy.
Why the study?
Trauma can rarely cause thrombotic microangiopathy, where early recognition is critical due to high mortality but diagnosis may be delayed.
Does urgent plasmapheresis improve clinical and hematological outcomes in patients developing thrombotic microangiopathy after a traumatic brain injury?
Case Report (n=1)
No
Does urgent plasmapheresis improve clinical and hematological outcomes in patients developing thrombotic microangiopathy after a traumatic brain injury?
Traumatic brain injury can rarely trigger thrombotic microangiopathy, underscoring the need for rapid recognition and total plasma exchange to prevent high mortality.
Key Clinical Message: This case report supports that trauma can rarely cause thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Early recognition is important due to a high mortality of untreated TMA, but diagnosis can be delayed by attributing lab abnormalities as due to blood loss. Abstract: Major trauma can provoke coagulopathy, ranging from hypo- to hypercoagulation. Thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), characterized by hemolytic anemia, renal failure, thrombocytopenia, and intravascular hemolysis, results in bleeding tendency but also microvascular thrombosis. We report a rare case of isolated traumatic brain injury leading to TMA treated with plasmapheresis.
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Meerbeeck et al. (2023) conducted a case report in Thrombotic microangiopathy following traumatic brain injury (n=1). Plasmapheresis was evaluated on Clinical and hematological recovery (resolution of thrombocytopenia, acute kidney injury, and hemolysis). Isolated traumatic brain injury can act as a trigger for severe thrombotic microangiopathy, which was successfully reversed with prompt total plasma exchange.
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