Brief Review

Overlapping Features of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Authors: James N. George, MD, Sara K. Vesely, PhD, Judith A. James, MD, PhD

Abstract

Although thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are distinct entities, they may appear as overlapping clinical syndromes from multiple perspectives: pathogenesis, patient demographics, clinical features, and management (Table). Our interest in the similarities of these two syndromes began with our experience that patients may be diagnosed with TTP following an established SLE diagnosis and also that patients may develop SLE following recovery from an episode of TTP. To extend our observations, we systematically reviewed all published reports describing patients who had been diagnosed with both TTP and SLE and identified 87 patients.1 Although one of the disorders, TTP or SLE, may merely mimic the other, in some patients, there is serologic as well as clinical evidence to support the diagnosis of both TTP and SLE.

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