Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

In 1954, Singer reviewed the subject of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, collecting 55 cases from the literature.¹Wile and Sturgeon, in 1956, compiled an additional 19 instances and added 3 case reports in children.²We are aware of an additional 25 reports during the years 1954-1957, bringing the total number of cases to over 100³⁻²⁷In general the clinical course of this disorder has been most unfavorable, the majority of patients dying within eight weeks of the recognized onset of the disease. In rare instances survival for more than one year has been reported.²³,²⁴,²⁶,²⁸,²⁹Several of these patients had atypical manifestations, so that it is difficult to ascertain the time of onset of the disease and the survival time in all of these cases. No well-documented typical case has undergone long-term spontaneous remission, and a variety of therapeutic endeavors has in general failed to influence the course